The association between obesity and hypertension in blacks

The relationship between obesity (or overweight) and hypertension among blacks warrants careful consideration because of the substantial prevalence of both obesity and hypertension in the black population. Based on the relative risks of hypertension for overweight and nonoverweight persons in the 1976-1980 U.S. National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey, 21% of hypertension in black men and 18% of hypertension in black women can be attributed to overweight. In terms of numbers affected, approximately 330,000 cases of hypertension among black men and 500,000 cases of hypertension among black women in the 25- 74-year age range may be related to obesity. Thus, although several sources suggest that obesity is less strongly associated with hypertension in blacks than whites, obesity clearly plays a significant role in hypertension in blacks. The benefits of weight loss for black hypertensives may include not only reduction in blood pressure but also--as an independent effect--regression of left ventricular hypertrophy, which is also excessively prevalent in blacks compared with whites. Weight control and weight reduction warrant high priority in treatment regimens for overweight black hypertensives.