Obesity - A Worldwide Epidemic affecting more than 250 Million People - High Blood Pressure Direct Result of Excess Weight
More than half of the people who are obese, also have hypertension. People with a body mass index of more than 25 kg/m2 (bodyweight in kilogram divided twice by body height in meters) are regarded as being obese. Accordingly, about ten million obese people in Germany are considered to be also hypertensive. These facts were pointed out by Prof. Arya Sharma (McMaster University, Hamilton, Ontario, Canada) and Prof. Friedrich Luft (Franz Volhard Clinic, Charité, Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Berlin-Buch Campus in the Helios Clinic and Max Delbrück Center for Molecular Medicine, MDC, Berlin-Buch), the organizers of the 3rd Symposium on Obesity and Hypertension, at the beginning of the meeting on Thursday at MDC`s Communications Center.
Researchers have been able to show in recent years that the increase in blood pressure is a direct result of excess weight. They have also made numerous new discoveries in the biology of fatty tissue. For example, that a number of molecules, which are produced by fatty cells, can directly influence the cardiovascular system and the kidneys.
Obesity and the causes of high blood pressure are the main focus of the symposium, which is being attended by around 250 researchers and clinicians from Australia, Canada, several European countries, Japan, South Africa, Uruguay as well as the USA. However, the participants of the conference will also discuss therapeutic concepts and tackle the question on how changes in life-style (nutrition, mobility, reduction in weight) will influence the blood pressure of obese people. Another important issue is the so-called integrated drug therapy, which should not only focus on reducing high blood pressure, but must also have in mind to reduce the risk of other cardiovascular diseases of the patients.
The symposium, which ends on Saturday, October 25, is supported by the World Hypertension League, the International and European Associations for the Study of Obesity, the European Society for Hypertension and by the Council for High Blood Pressure Research of the American Heart Association.
Barbara Bachtler
Press and Public Affairs
Max Delbrück Center for Molecular Medicine (MDC)
Berlin-Buch
Robert-Rössle-Straße 10; 13125 Berlin; Germany
Phone: +49 (0) 30 94 06 - 38 96
Fax: +49 (0) 30 94 06 - 38 33
e-mail: presse@mdc-berlin.de
