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Even slight weight gain is fraught with heart disease
Last reviewed: 01.07.2025
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Even a weight gain of 1 kg per year is enough to cause high blood pressure in a person aged 18-20.
This is the conclusion reached by scientists from the University of Illinois. They also emphasized that this effect is especially reflected in young women.
"Our research data show that even a slight increase in body weight provokes an increase in systolic pressure by 3-5 mm Hg. If young people gain 1 kg of weight every year and think that the process will pass without a trace, then this is a misconception that is fraught with the risk of developing heart disease," says Margarita Teran-Garcia, a professor of gastronomy and human nutrition at the University of Illinois.
The experts examined 795 students from the University of San Luis Potosi in Mexico, aged 18 to 20. All of these young people were enrolled in the ranks of students for the second time. The experts assessed changes in weight and body index over the year, and also measured blood pressure and glucose levels, comparing the results with the previous year.
Increased blood pressure in both women and men was associated with weight change. In 25% of subjects, this indicator was 5% or more. The experts found the greatest changes in women.
The good news, experts say, is that the opposite is true: Women who lost 5% of their weight had lower blood pressure.
About 31% of Mexican adults have hypertension, 13% of those aged twenty and over and 60% of those aged 60 and over.
The effects of gaining extra pounds may be particularly pronounced in Mexicans, who are at risk for developing cardiovascular disease. These results are significantly higher than those of similar groups in the United States.
The study's author added that if young people can be convinced that small changes in weight at a young age can lead to serious health problems later in life, there is hope of preventing the development of chronic diseases caused by obesity. Unfortunately, there are not many programs that can convey such important information to young people.
“Our plans include finding out to what extent the increase in blood pressure is due to genetic predisposition and to what extent it is due to lifestyle,” the professor added.
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