[Obesity and hypertension: from physiopathology to treatment]

Obesity constitutes a problem of major concern in our industrialized countries. Overweight is frequently associated with hypertension (50% of hypertensive subjects are obese and the prevalence of hypertension in obese patients is twice that of the normal population). Both pathologies are major cardiovascular risk factors. This review aims at a better understanding of the relationship between hypertension and overweight and at giving to the clinicians simple and consistent guidelines to treat these two medical entities.