Decrease in Intra-Abdominal Visceral Fat May Reduce Blood Pressure in Obese Hypertensive Women

Abstract

We investigated the relationship between changes in blood pressure and fat distribution after a 12-week low-calorie diet in 26 obese hypertensive women whose average age was 50±13 years, mean body mass index was 33.7±3.1 kg/m2, and mean blood pressure was 112±9 mm Hg. As an index of intra-abdominal fat accumulation, we used the ratio of the intra-abdominal visceral fat area to subcutaneous fat area, determined by a computed tomographic section at the level of the umbilicus. Subjects lost a mean of 9.4±4.1 kg on a 1200-kcal (5040-kJ) diet for 12 weeks. Their mean blood pressure fell from 112±9 to 101±12 mm Hg (P<.001). The ratio of the visceral to subcutaneous fat area was significantly reduced after weight reduction from 0.56±0.33 to 0.45±0.27 (P<.02). Fasting plasma glucose and plasma glucose area after a 75-g oral glucose tolerance test also were significantly reduced by weight reduction. The change in mean blood pressure after weight reduction was not correlated with the change in body weight ...