Weight Loss Can Control Hypertension

An Italian study has identified overweight as a direct cause of high blood pressure. And it also showed that up to half of overweight people can bring down blood pressure to healthy levels by weight reduction.

It's important that the study linked overweight to high blood pressure, which usually is described as "essential," a medical term meaning that the cause is unknown.

The study suggests that, in many cases, hypertension [high blood pressure] is not essential. It is secondary to overweight. So, in the first stages of overweight, if we can induce people to reduce overweight, they can also avoid being treated for hypertension.

A 6-month diet restored normal blood pressure, study finds.