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Weight reduction is an accepted nonpharmacologic treatment for hypertension. This reanalysis of data from a randomized trial examined the interaction between weight reduction and drug therapy and sought to determine the degree of weight loss necessary to reduce blood pressure.
The 529 patients received either chlorthalidone, 25 mg/day, atenolol, 50 mg/day, or placebo. Within each group, about half the patients continued their usual diet while the rest were counseled about losing weight. All patients had a diastolic BP of 90 to 100 mm Hg and were at 110 to 160 percent of ideal body weight.
In the group attempting weight loss while taking placebo, a loss of at least 4.5 kg was necessary to lower BP significantly. The decrease in diastolic BP wi…