In a recent comparison of weight loss methods, one that included a low carbohydrates diet was found to be effective in battling hypertension. When compared to the use of the drug orlistat, both methods were successful in reducing total body weight, but focusing on carbohydrate consumption in particular seemed to have the most pronounced effect on a person’s blood pressure, a common health problem in overweight people. Orlistat, marketed under the trade name, Xenical, functions by preventing the absorption of fat into the body.

The findings, published in the current issue of the Archives of Internal Medicine, support the advantages of a dietary approach to weight loss, which unlike the use of medication, is more economical and has fewer side effects. Previous studies had supported the effectiveness of reducing carbohydrates in conjunction with orlistat, but this was the first time the two had been compared to one another. Furthermore, most subjects in weight loss studies are relatively healthy and do not have chronic health conditions, which include diabetes, high cholesterol, arthritis, and hypertension.

To arrive at their conclusions, doctors followed 146 overweight patients with a range of health problems for one year. They were either put on a low-carbohydrate diet or given the medication, orlistat, in combination with a low-fat diet. Both methods proved to be equally effective in lowering body weight by nearly 10%, as well as improving cholesterol and glucose levels.

The real difference was seen in their respective effects on blood pressure, surprising even the authors of the study. Almost half (47%)of the patients who were assigned low-carbohydrate diets discontinued their hypertension medication or had it reduced, compared to only 21% of the orlistat group, along with a commensurate decrease in systolic blood pressure.

The mechanism by which low-carbohydrate diets lower blood pressure is not clearly understood, but needless to say, opens up many avenues of future research. The findings also support the notion that while diets are effective at achieving weight loss, the inclusion of counseling in order to arrive at the optimal approach may in fact improve the end result and result in important quality of life changes.

Hypertension, also known as high blood pressure, is a chronic condition that can lead to numerous health problems, including heart attacks, strokes, and aneurysm. High blood pressure is also the leading cause of renal failure in the United States, and even a moderate elevation of blood pressure can shorten one’s life expectancy.

According to the American Heart Association, hypertension affects nearly one in three adults in this country, or 73 million Americans. Hypertension is also estimated to affect nearly 2 million teenagers and children. Certain situations predispose people to high blood pressure, including obesity, sedentary lifestyle, high salt diets, smoking, and alcohol consumption.

If hypertension is not severe, it can often be effectively treated through modifications in diet and lifestyle, as well as medication. If you are suffering from hypertension, speak with your doctor about your options, and check out the website for the American Heart Association.