How much is blood pressure effected by obesity?

[tara]

My blood pressure is high enough that I might have to go on drugs soon to get it back down again. I’m on the very low side of being obese – right on the edge of just being overweight. If I go on a diet and really get my weight down so that I’m only overweight, or perhaps even on the high side of the healthy BMI, will it be able to get my blood pressure down enough so that I won’t have to take the medications?

I just don’t know if it makes a little difference or a very big difference if you’re obese and your blood pressure is high.

Thanks Guys!

[tobetinytina]

I think it has quite a bit of impact on your blood pressure, Tara. It would depend on how much you lose, but if you eat right and you get your weight down, then you'll have quite a measurable difference in your readings.

[speeddemon]

Speaking from experience, it can make enough difference that you don't have to take medication anymore.

[PaulLo]

The difference that weight loss will make to your blood pressure depends on several different factors, including what is causing your blood pressure to be high in the first place. It may be another condition that is causing it to be high. However, usually being in a healthy weight zone will only have a positive impact on your blood pressure. Talk to your doctor before trying to treat any condition yourself, though.

[sarah]

If you do end up being prescribed blood pressure medication, or if you are on it now and you want to lose weight to get off of it, make sure that you do actaully take it as long as your doctor says. Don't just stop using it because you intend to get better. Make doc appointments so that you can be sure it's safe to stop using the pills.

[Mike]

It's not just your blood pressure that can benefit from losing weight and exercising regularly. A lot of different parts of your health can. Even your cholesterol.

[antoniojones1968]

It's not just your blood pressure that can benefit from losing weight and exercising regularly. A lot of different parts of your health can. Even your cholesterol.

You're right. It's important to remember, too, that blood pressure is something that changes over time. If you drop 2 pounds, you're not going to find that it corrects itself. You need to establish a healthy diet and maintain your weight at a proper level.

[tracy1976]

Don't forget that there are a lot more issues behind blood pressure than just your weight, so if your bp is high, don't jsut toss yourself on a diet as some kind of self created therapy. You should really ask your doctor before you begin anything that is designed to change your blood pressure or anything else about your physical state. It could impact a lot more than you know, and the high bp could be a symptom of some underlying condition that you don't know about. It's really best to allow a professional to guide you.

[Beth]

It makes enough of a difference that it could actually save your life. high blood pressure is very dangeroius, so any improvements you can make will only help you

[clark23]

If you are obese, you have more body mass. Each additional part requires blood vessels running to it to provide food and remove wastes. So your heart needs to pump harder - higher blood pressure - to supply blood to all of the "excess" body fat.