Even small weight gains could lead to increased BP

A new study on blood pressure has made startling revelations. The study says that gaining just 1.5 pounds or 0.6 kg per year makes you vulnerable to raise blood pressure. During the research the researchers found raise in blood pressure in college students, with young women are worst hit.

"If young people continue to gain 1.5 pounds a year and think it doesn't matter, they're misleading themselves and increasing their risk of heart disease," Margarita Teran-Garcia, professor of food science and human nutrition at the University of Illinois has been quoted as saying.

For this study data collected from 795, 18- to 20-year-old applicants to the Universidad Autonoma de San Luis Potosi in Mexico. These participants were not accepted to the university but reapplied the next year.

The researchers evaluated the changes in BMI (height to weight ratio) and body weight over one year. They also tried to find out whether the applicants experienced changes in blood pressure and blood glucose levels, according to an Illinois statement.

They found that one year changes in body weight were linked with increased blood pressure (BP) for both the sexes. The researchers found that in the 25 percent of applicants who had a weight gain of 5 percent or above this weight gain was linked to higher BP. They found that the changes were more significant for women compared to men.

"The good news is that the reverse was also true. Women who lost 5 percent of their body weight saw reductions in their blood pressure," Teran-Garcia has been quoted saying.

Teran-Garcia is worried as doctors don't take weight gain and small increases in blood pressure seriously in the people in this age group.

--with inputs from IANS

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