Longitudinal studies to determine the effect of body fat rate reduction on blood pressure.

Body constitution is estimated by weight as a quantity index and percent body fat (%BF) as a quality index. Obesity is one of the risk factors in hypertension. High blood pressure drops by body weight reduction. The relationship between %BF change and blood pressure change during 1 year, and whether blood pressure changed in subjects whose %BF decreased without body weight reduction, were investigated. %BF was measured with bioelectrical impedance analysis. The changes of body weight, %BF and blood pressure in the decreased %BF group that decreased more than 2 points of %BF, and in the no body weight change group which body weight had not changed in the decreased %BF group, were studied. In the decreased %BF group, average blood pressures fell significantly from 149/92 to 141/86 mm Hg in the subjects in hypertensive state at baseline. In the no weight change group, average blood pressures also fell significantly from 151/93 to 140/87 mm Hg. Even if the body weight had not changed, blood pressure had decreased significantly when %BF had decreased significantly.