ABSTRACT
Obesity is a highly prevalent disease in the United States and worldwide. From 1991 to 2002 in the United States, the prevalence of obesity, as defined by a body mass index (BMI) greater than 30 kg/m2, increased 74% (1). The proportion of U.S. states with greater than 15% of the population classified as obese grew from 9% to 98% (1). Hypertension, as defined by a blood pressure greater than 140/90mmHg is also common, affecting 24% of the U.S. adult population (1). Not surprisingly, a close association exists between obesity and hypertension. In African-American women older than 50 years, the prevalence of obesity is approximately 70%, with a coincident rate of hypertension exceeding 70% (2).
