Mild Weight Gain Can Increase Blood Pressure
By Dr. Brian McDonough, Medical Editor
PHILADELPHIA (CBS) - We know that obesity is a major health problem in this country and, among other things, can lead to high blood pressure but what about a few extra pounds?
Researchers at the Mayo Clinic have found that just a few pounds can have a negative effect.
They compared blood pressure changes in patients that they gave ice cream shakes, chocolate bars or energy drinks to, increasing their diets by about a thousand calories. Over an 8-week period they increased their weight by about ten pounds.
They then compared them to a group that maintained the same diet.
What they found is that those who gained weight had an increase of their systolic blood pressure (that is the top number) from 114 mmhg to 118 mmhg.
There is definitely a difference that weight loss and diet can provide.