Sex differences in the effects of body mass index on blood pressure

Abstract

Little information is available concerning the sex differences in the effects of BMI on blood pressure. The aim of the present study was to examine the effects of BMI on blood pressure, focusing on the sex differences. Seven sets of cross-sectional data were obtained from annual health examinations (1994 through 2000) for residents aged 40 and older living in Tsunagi area, a small village in southern part of Kumamoto Prefecture, Japan. Although age-adjusted mean BP levels and prevalence of hypertension were higher in the higher levels of BMI in both sexes, the significance of obesity (BMI≥25), as a strong predictor of hypertension, was more evident in women than in men. The risks of hypertension among women were substantially lower in less than 25 of BMI than in 25 or greater BMI, but this was not the case for men. For men, weight control for preventing hypertension should be taken into account even below 25 of BMI over weight level. This trend remined stable and consistent through all survey years. These data in dicate that obesity as a predictor of hypertension should have different standards between men and women, which is very important for determinations of clinical diagnosis and reducing incidence of associated metabolic diseases.