Obesity links depression and high blood pressure

By Megan Rauscher

NEW YORK (Reuters Health) – Research suggests there is a
significant association, mediated through obesity, between
symptoms of depression and high blood pressure.

Psychological factors are known to be related to high blood
pressure and heart disease, lead researcher Dr. Azad Alamgir
Kabir commented to Reuters Health. “This study shows a probable
pathway between depression and development of (high blood
pressure). If we know the causal pathways, we can develop
effective prevention techniques,” the researcher added.

The researchers studied 1,017 individuals, between 12 and
62 years old, from 561 families participating in the Bogalusa
Heart Study. Sixty percent were white and 52 percent were
women. On average, the subjects were overweight, but not obese.
Roughly one third were presumed to have depression and 13.4
percent had high blood pressure.

In the American Journal of Hypertension, Kabir from
Louisiana State University Health Science Center in Shreveport
and colleagues report that symptoms of depression were
associated with high blood pressure indirectly through an
association with increased body weight in both whites and
African Americans.

“Since depressed individuals are more likely to be
overweight, special care should be taken to address the
symptoms of depression in the general population,” Kabir said.
“Such a technique may also be helpful to develop an effective
weight reduction program and subsequently (a high blood
pressure) prevention program,” the researcher added.

SOURCE: American Journal of Hypertension, June 2006.