[Relation of weight and arterial pressure in university students]

There is evidence of an association between obesity and hypertension. This association occurs more frequently in industrialized population. Weight gain in young adult life is a potent risk factor for later development of hypertension. In this study we used cross-sectional data of medical students, between 17 and 24 years old. The relationship among blood pressure and relative weight were examined through assessment of mean blood pressure levels and prevalence of hypertension. We found that in males, the 21.89% was overweight or obese and in females, the 25.98% was in this range. The blood pressure was greater in males. For all the risk groups, except for the hazardous group about DBP. The regression analysis showed a linear relative weight-blood pressure relation for both sexes and both systolic blood pressure and diastolic blood pressure. The prevalence ratio was greater than 1 in all cases. The observations founded suggest that the mechanism that protect females in young adult life are nulified by the overweight. It's necessary to foment preventive ways against overweight in young adult life because in this age it's possible to revert the higher blood pressure levels. Obesity; hypertension; adolescents.