Blood pressure linked to weight not fitness

DALLAS Researchers at the University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center studied about 35,000 people who were either obese or overweight. Most were Caucasian men with an average age of 46 years.

They found that a high /*body mass index*/ (BMI), and not fitness, was a more important factor in predicting /*high blood pressure*/.

Researchers suggest that people looking to lower their blood pressure should focus first on losing weight.

The study was published in the American Heart Journal.

Reuters contributed to this report.