Research
Mixed
Higher Body Mass Index (BMI) is positively correlated with an increased risk of developing hypertension, with risk increasing significantly at BMI >30 kg/m2, although physical activity can mitigate this risk.
If you have a high BMI, your risk for high blood pressure is elevated, but it is not inevitable. Engaging in regular physical activity can significantly reduce this risk, even if your weight does not change drastically. Focus on movement as a protective factor alongside weight management.
GoodSupportsHIGH confidence
Results revealed an increasing trend based on BMI (BMI <25= 1.00, 25-29.9= 1.18, and >30= 1.66). Thus, a larger BMI was linked with a greater occurrence of hypertension in this population. Furthermore, this study discovered that physical activity mitigated the risk of developing hypertension remarkably, even if the body mass index was higher than normal.
Why this rating
Based on large prospective studies (Hu et al., Gelber et al.) with thousands of participants.
Source
Body Mass Index (BMI): A Screening Tool Analysis
Deepesh Khanna et al. · Cureus · 2022
DOI 10.7759/cureus.22119
narrative_reviewCited 234×
Read the paper DOI resolved against Crossref · corpus check 2026-06-10
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