Hypertension Related to Obesity: Pathogenesis, Characteristics and Factors for Control

Paul El Meouchy, Mohamad Wahoud, Sabine Allam, Roy Chedid, Wissam Karam, Sabine Karam

Research output: Contribution to journalReview articlepeer-review

45 Scopus citations

Abstract

The World Health Organization (WHO) refers to obesity as abnormal or excessive fat accumulation that presents a health risk. Obesity was first designated as a disease in 2012 and since then the cost and the burden of the disease have witnessed a worrisome increase. Obesity and hypertension are closely interrelated as abdominal obesity interferes with the endocrine and immune systems and carries a greater risk for insulin resistance, diabetes, hypertension, and cardiovascular disease. Many factors are at the interplay between obesity and hypertension. They include hemodynamic alterations, oxidative stress, renal injury, hyperinsulinemia, and insulin resistance, sleep apnea syndrome and the leptin-melanocortin pathway. Genetics, epigenetics, and mitochondrial factors also play a major role. The measurement of blood pressure in obese patients requires an adapted cuff and the search for other secondary causes is necessary at higher thresholds than the general population. Lifestyle modifications such as diet and exercise are often not enough to control obesity, and so far, bariatric surgery constitutes the most reliable method to achieve weight loss. Nonetheless, the emergence of new agents such as Semaglutide and Tirzepatide offers promising alternatives. Finally, several molecular pathways are actively being explored, and they should significantly extend the treatment options available.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Article number12305
JournalInternational journal of molecular sciences
Volume23
Issue number20
DOIs
StatePublished - Oct 2022

Bibliographical note

Publisher Copyright:
© 2022 by the authors.

Keywords

  • characteristics
  • genetics
  • hypertension
  • obesity
  • pathogenesis
  • treatment

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