Apple Shape Linked to High Blood Pressure

By Dietitian Juliette Kellow BSc RD

A new study published in the American Journal of Hypertension has discovered that people who carry excess weight around the stomach may be particularly at risk of high blood pressure.

The survey followed more than 2,000 Chinese adults for 10 years and discovered that those who had the largest waistlines at the start of the study or those who put on weight specifically around their tummies during the decade were more likely to develop high blood pressure.

Dr Chen-Huan Chen, who was involved in the study, says, “It is obvious that the most important thing to do is to prevent abdominal obesity, not just obesity.”

WLR says:

We’ve known for a long time that being overweight or obese increases our chances of developing high blood pressure (hypertension). Plus, it’s well established that a fat tummy is linked to heart disease and type 2 diabetes.

This, however, is one of the first studies to show a specific link between apple shapes and high blood pressure.

As is the case with other diseases, it’s likely the risk starts to increase with a waist measurement over 32 inches (80cm) for women and 37 inches (94cm) for men. Even if your BMI is ` 1normal, it’s worth measuring your waist to identify whether you have too much fat stored around your middle.

The good news is, if you stick to your daily calorie allowance as recommended by WLR, you’ll find those pounds and inches come off simultaneously reducing the risk of high blood pressure and, improving both your health and figure overall.