Obesity was more strongly associated with hypertension in Japanese women than men across all age groups, with women aged 40-49 with BMI ≥35 kg/m² having an odds ratio of 15.39 versus 11.16 in men.
Cross-Sectional (n=1,579,497)
Yes
Does overweight and obesity increase the risk of hypertension differently in men versus women among Japanese adults aged 40-74?
Obesity has a stronger association with hypertension in Japanese women than in men, highlighting the need for targeted obesity prevention in early middle-aged women despite their lower overall obesity prevalence.
Abstract We examined the effect of sex on the relationship between obesity and hypertension among Japanese people, who generally have a lower prevalence of obesity than Westerners. We analyzed the results of specific health checkups for Japanese aged 40–74 years (688,306 men and 891,191 women) obtained in 2011. The participants were divided into four age groups (40–49, 50–59, 60–69, and 70–74 years) and five body mass index (BMI) categories (≤ 24.9 non-overweight/obesity, 25.0–26.9 and 27.0–29.9 overweight, 30.0–34.9 and ≥ 35.0 kg/m 2 obesity). The odds ratio for hypertension in each BMI category was calculated using normal weight as the reference. The prevalence of hypertension was 26.8%–65.5% for men and 17.6%–53.6% for women in the overweight or obesity categories in the 40–49 age group, and 72.0%–88.7% for men and 70.1%–90.6% for women in the 70–74 age group. In women aged 40–49, the prevalence of hypertension in each BMI category was approximately 10% lower than that in men, but there was almost no difference between men and women in the 70–74 age group. On the other hand, the odds ratio for hypertension was higher in women than in men across all BMI categories and age groups. A stronger relationship between obesity and hypertension was observed in women than in men in all age groups. Japanese women have not been the target of studies for obesity, but more attention should be paid to Japanese women with obesity.
Nagahata et al. (2025) conducted a cross-sectional in Obesity and Hypertension (n=1,579,497). Overweight and Obesity (BMI ≥ 25.0 kg/m²) vs. Normal weight (BMI ≤ 24.9 kg/m²) was evaluated on Odds ratio for hypertension (SBP ≥ 140 mmHg, DBP ≥ 90 mmHg, or antihypertensive use). Obesity was more strongly associated with hypertension in Japanese women than men across all age groups, with women aged 40-49 with BMI ≥35 kg/m² having an odds ratio of 15.39 versus 11.16 in men.