Prevalence of obesity in Greek hypertensives.

An association of obesity and hypertension is well recognised and there is a direct positive relationship between body weight or body mass index (BMI) and blood pressure (BP), although the mechanisms responsible for weight-related increases of BP are still unknown. Obesity does appear to be an independent risk factor for premature mortality, especially when it is associated with other risk factors such as hyperinsulinemia and glucose intolerance (or diabetes), hyperlipidemia, and hypertension. However, there are differences among racial and ethnic subgroups.