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Race factors in weight-blood pressure connection Body size is a major predictor of high blood pressure in both blacks and whites, but racial differences may affect the association of weight and blood pressure, according to study results presented at the American Society of Hypertension’s Nineteenth Annual Scientific Meeting. “Despite similar obesity-related health risks in all populations, the specific level of risk associated with excess weight may vary with race, age, and gender,” said Jill E. Abell, MPH. “The Black Pooling Project, which includes the Evans County, Ga., Heart Study, provides a resource to assess the effects of body mass on blood pressure in a population of black and white men and women.” The Evans County Heart Study is a community-based cohort of 3,102 people identified since 1960. Data at baseline included age, systolic and diastolic blood pressure, and body mass index (BMI). BMI is a measure of body fat, based on height and weight, that applies to both men and women. Abell described results from a cohort of 3,089 people consisting of 941 white males, 970 white females, 534 black males, and 644 black females. BMI was defined as underweight, normal, overweight, and obese. The average age for the four gender-racial groups was 46. Approximately half of the participants had a BMI greater than 25. A gender-racial breakdown of overweight or obese included 46 percent of white males, 44 percent of white females, 38 percent of black males, and 59 percent of black females. “Blood pressure increased with BMI in all four ethnic-gender groups,” she said. “Approximately 53 percent of whites and 74 percent of blacks were hypertensive with blood pressure greater than 140/90 mm Hg.  Higher rates of hypertension for blacks were seen for all weight categories. “Our data indicate that increasing levels of BMI above the normal range have a comparable effect to increase blood pressure in the four different ethnic-gender groups,” Abell concluded. “The data are consistent with other evidence that the prevention and treatment of overweight and obesity would significantly lower blood pressure and the prevalence of hypertension in both blacks and whites.” The American Society of Hypertension (ASH) is the largest U.S. organization devoted exclusively to hypertension and related cardiovascular diseases.  ASH is committed to alerting physicians, allied health professionals, and the public about new medical options, facts, research findings, and treatment choices designed to reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease.   Friday, June 4, 2004 Catalyst Online is published weekly, updated as needed and improved from time to time by the MUSC Office of Public Relations for the faculty, employees and students of the Medical University of South Carolina. Catalyst Online editor, Kim Draughn, can be reached at 792-4107 or by email, catalyst@musc.edu. Editorial copy can be submitted to Catalyst Online and to The Catalyst in print by fax, 792-6723, or by email to petersnd@musc.edu or catalyst@musc.edu. To place an ad in The Catalyst hardcopy, call Community Press at 849-1778.