A new study shows that overweight, low birthweight and low socio-economic status all contribute to high blood pressure.

We already know that overweight and obesity increase the risk of high blood pressure. Researchers at University College, London, now put this link into a new context. They've been following a group of men and women born in Britain in the year 1946 to see which factors affected their blood pressure in later life.

The study shows that those with low birthweight had higher systolic (top figure) blood pressure at age 36 which was sustained, though not raised further, at age 53. Those of low socioeconomic status in childhood had raised systolic blood pressure and raised diastolic (bottom) figure than those of higher status and this difference increased with age. The difference was due largely to increased body mass index among those of low childhood socioeconomic status. The study suggests that the tendency towards high blood pressure may start in childhood. Long-term control of body weight may be the most effective way of keeping blood pressure within normal limits.

Source

The Lancet 11th October 2003