Weight Loss in Overweight Adults and the Long-term Risk of Hypertension

Abstract

We evaluated weight loss among 623 over-weight (body mass index [calculated as weight in kilo-grams divided by the square of height in meters] 25)middle-aged(aged30-49years)and605overweightolder(aged 50-65 years) adults in Framingham, Mass. Sub-jects were classified first according to amount of weightlost over 4 years: (1) weight changed by less than 1.8 kg(stable weight), (2) lost 1.8 to less than 3.6 kg, (3) lost3.6 to less than 6.8 kg, and (4) lost 6.8 kg or more. Wealso classified weight loss according to whether it wassustained during the next 4 years.