Overweight and hypertension: how are the two diseases linked?

Yes, overweight or evenobesity is intrinsically linked to thehypertension. The combination of the two diseases “acts synergistically,Risks reinforce each other » alerts Clara Ledoux Morvan, dietician and nutritionist. This is why if any of these diseases are diagnosed, it is prudent to have regular health check-ups. But there are also warning signs that we can monitor individually.

The most recent study in France on obesity and overweight figures gives worrying figures. In 2024, the French Obesity Epidemiology Observatory (OFEO) estimated that 48.8% of the French population was overweight or obese.

Adipose tissue disease is characterized by an excessive accumulation of fat in the body, the most dangerous of which is that which is found around the abdominal muscles.

Usually measured by BMI, body mass index, overweight also requires measuring waist circumference and body fat levels. A person is considered to be:

This figure must be combined with the waist measurement mark.

In France, 17 million adults suffer from hypertension, or approximately 1 in 3 adults. And among them, nearly 6 million people are affected without even knowing it.

What is high blood pressure? “Concretely, the heart acts like a pump which sends blood through the vessels. If the pressure is too strong, and for a prolonged period, it gradually tires and damages the arteries. We speak of high blood pressure (HTA) when this pressure is persistently equal to or greater than 140/90mmHg,” replies Clara Ledoux Morvan.

The causes are multiple :

It all starts from adipose tissue, fat, especially abdominal fat.  » It is an active organ that influences several mechanisms “, explains the dietitian.

Adipose tissue first acts “on the insulin resistant ”, which over time can transform into “hyperinsulinemia” which constantly “activates the sympathetic nervous system”, and therefore “increases blood pressure”.

Adipose tissue also causes “chronic low-grade inflammation.” Which, over time, alters vascular walls which are weakening.

Adipose tissue also acts on the “activation of the renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system”, the hormonal system located in the kidney and whose major role is to regulate blood pressure. The action of the accumulation of adipose tissue in the body therefore causes “an increased blood volumein already weakened walls.

Finally, fat also impacts “the production of nitric oxide, a molecule produced by the vessels to allow them to dilate”.

The two diseases act synergistically. The consequences of both come amplify the risks linked to the two diseases. And there are many of them.

We must therefore be alerted and consult as quickly as possible. The importance of monitoring symptoms thus takes on its full meaning. Particularly for hypertension in which the symptoms are not not immediately identifiable. They result on a daily basis in “fatigue, shortness of breath, reduced exercise tolerance, sleep problems”.

Socio-economic factors do indeed impact the potential risks of developing these diseases. Lower income coupled with a stressful lifestyle acts on tension and weight. “The environment is less favorable to physical activity, access to prevention and medical monitoring.”

Age and gender also have a role to play in the process. “The risks naturally increase with aging, particularly due to the progressive stiffening of the arteries,” informs the dietician. And the risk is prevalent particularly among “men, at a less mature age”. Among women, “it’s the menopause and the drop in protective estrogens which mark a certain vulnerability.”

Finally, “certain epidemiological studies including those of the WHO and large international cohorts have demonstrated a higher prevalence of hypertension in certain populations, in particular among Afro-descendant populations », Specifies Clara Ledoux Morvan.

After being diagnosed, treatment can go through three distinct or cumulative axes, depending on the severity.

« Food first, plays an important role,” informs the nutritionist. This goes through:

Clara Ledoux Morvan also recommends relying on the “typical model of the Mediterranean diet ».

Secondly, physical activity can change everything. “The goal is to achieve at least 150 minutes per week of physical activity.” However, these activities do not have to be complicated. “ Walk 10 minutes or ride a bike, even if just for a short distanceafter each meal, or 30 minutes a day, already helps improve blood sugar, circulation and blood pressure,” she insists.

Finally, in the most severe cases, medical treatment may be considered. There exists “ antihypertensive medications if necessary”, as well as other “treatments which may accompany weight loss depending on the situation”.

For cases of severe obesity with a very serious medical indication, we then consider a “ bariatric surgery ».

What you need to know is that “improvements can appear quite quickly”.

In terms of diet, “a reduction in salt” proves positive effects “in a few weeks”.

Coupled with a “resumption of physical activity and moderate weight loss (5 to 10% of weight), improvements are visible after one to three months.

Personal follow-up can also help. In “ regularly testing your blood pressure at home with a blood pressure monitor” for example. “This makes it possible to objectify progress and adjust treatment with health professionals,” she concludes.