Obesity and Hypertension

Abstract

Obesity is associated with a spectrum of metabolic and cardiovascular disorders, including hypertension. Both the degree and the distribution of excess adipose tissue impact on the risk of hypertension and associated cardiovascular diseases. The mechanisms that may lead to hypertension in obese individuals include increased SNS activity, insulin resistance and hyperinsulinemia, sodium retention, and enhanced vascular reactivity. These abnormalities are interrelated in a complex fashion, making it difficult to determine which, if any, of them is the primary process leading to elevated blood pressure in obese individuals. Nonetheless, the metabolic abnormalities and hypertension diminish with weight loss and chronic exercise, providing a strong rationale for hypocaloric diets and aerobic exercise in the treatment of obesity-related hypertension. Patients who fail to achieve acceptable blood pressure control with diet and exercise therapy require pharmacologic treatment. Of the available antihypertensive agents, calcium entry blockers, ACE inhibitors, and alpha 1-receptor blockers appear to offer good blood pressure control without worsening--and sometimes while improving--the lipid and carbohydrate abnormalities that often occur in obese patients. New drugs developed to ameliorate insulin resistance show promise as antihypertensive agents as well, and may prove to be ideal in reversing multiple cardiovascular risk factors in obese, hypertensive patients.