A Healthy Weight is More Important than Being Fit . . .

. . . if you’re interested in avoiding high blood pressure.  That’s the key, according to a study reported in the American Heart Journal.

University of Texas researchers wanted to see which preventive measures were most successful in modifying the risk for high blood pressure (hypertension) – cardiorespiratory fitness or weight control.  They measured blood pressure, body mass index (BMI), and cardiorespiratory fitness in over 35,000 patients submitting to a comprehensive medical examination between 1990 and the present.  The group consisted mainly of white men (average age 46).       

The analyses looked first at weight.  Normal-weight subjects (BMI below 25) had an average systolic blood pressure 12 mm Hg lower than obese subjects (BMI over 30).  Turning to fitness, it was found that the subjects with the highest level of fitness (measured by time achieved during maximal exercise) had an average 6 mm Hg lower systolic pressure than the least fit.

The results show that when these two lifestyle risk factors are compared, BMI was more important than cardiorespiratory fitness in predicting systolic blood pressure.  The lowest systolic pressures were observed in subjects with modest fitness levels coupled with normal BMI scores (i.e. 21-25).  The researchers think that the rather modest effect of exercise on blood pressure in obese individuals is because of competition between competing effects on arterial stiffness, insulin sensitivity, vascular resistance, and intravascular release of nitric oxide from the cells lining the vessels (endothelium).  Whatever – the lesson is to eat correctly as well as working out.