Obesity is a serious epidemic in the United States and continues to become a more significant health problem with each decade that passes. Obesity itself does not fly solo but is accompanied by its multiple comorbid disease companions. One disease most commonly associated with obesity, and most commonly disregarded due to its commonality, is hypertension. Hypertension itself is a precursor to significant health risks, including cardiovascular disease, heart failure, stroke, heart attacks, and kidney disease to name a few. In the United States, obesity constitutes 37.9% of men and 41.4% of women, and if we continue to follow past trends into the future, these numbers will continue to worsen.
As one continues to gain weight, the risk of hypertension escalates, which ultimately leads to an elevation in the comorbidities listed above. A weight gain of 55 pounds in a woman can increase her risk of developing hypertension three-fold. Obesity is most commonly evaluated by measuring one’s body mass index or BMI as well as occasionally measuring one’s waist circumference as well. These values allow clinicians to get an overall picture of one’s risk factors associated with a patient who is overweight or obese.
In many cases, weight loss has been shown to prevent the development of hypertension and its health risks in those with borderline disease, as well as cure hypertension in those who have been burdened by its effects. It was found that the greater an individuals weight loss, the greater the improvement of one’s blood pressure, which can ultimately lead to a decrease in arterial stiffness and other cardiovascular complications. In the Framingham Heart Study, it was found that patients who lost 6.8Kg and sustained this weight loss were associated with a 21-29% risk reduction in developing hypertension.
How Roller Weight Loss can help
At Roller Weight Loss and Advanced Surgery, we have developed a program that looks at each patient individually and includes personalized discussions with the patients and their families on how to approach the weight loss program strategically and safely. At Roller Weight Loss and Advanced Surgery, we use evidence-based medicine to direct our decision making and offer weight loss operations as well as medical weight loss options.
Weight loss surgery has been shown to decrease hypertension, as well as the risk factors associated with hypertension. At our clinic, weight loss surgery is paired with lifestyle changes for the best long term weight loss results. Lifestyle changes paired with weight loss surgery at our clinic include increased physical activity and exercise, and diet curtailing; both of which are emphasized and discussed in detail at each individual’s appointment. From the seminar at the beginning of the program to each subsequent appointment, patients will be educated on the importance of lifestyle modifications that are encouraged and evaluated.
Losing weight through weight loss surgery should be assessed by any individual who is looking to live a healthier lifestyle without the detrimental effects associated with obesity including hypertension and the difficulties that come with it. Weight loss surgery has been shown to increase the ease of developing an exercise regimen by making exercise easier on a patient’s joints and back. Increasing exercise ultimately increases weight loss, and in response, decreases the risk of hypertension and its associated comorbid effects.
References:
Perreault, Leigh. Obesity in adults: Prevalence, screening, and evaluation. In: UpToDate, Post, TW (Ed), UpToDate, Waltham, MA, 2019
Moore, L., Visioni, A., Qureshi, M. (2005). Weight Loss in Overweight Adults and the Long-term Risk of Hypertension. JAMA internal medicine, 165(11), pp. 1298-1303. 01/07/2019
