Cardiovascular Risk

Lower Leg Adiposity May Stave Off Hypertension

Young and middle-aged adults with higher leg adiposity have a lower risk of hypertension compared with adults with lower leg adiposity, according to new research presented at the American Heart Association’s Hypertension Sessions 2020.1

Using data from the 2011-2016 National Health & Nutrition Examination Surveys, the researchers evaluated the leg adiposity of 5997 participants aged 20 to 59 years who were not pregnant, were not taking antihypertensives, and did not self-report a history of cardiovascular disease.

Dual-energy x-ray absorptiometry (DXA) scanning was used to assess leg adiposity, which was defined as the percentage of total fat mass present in the bilateral lower extremities. Hypertension was defined as a blood pressure higher than 130/80 mm Hg.

The results of the analysis showed that participants with higher leg fat had 53% lower odds of isolated diastolic hypertension, 39% lower odds of isolated systolic hypertension, and 61% lower odds of systo-diastolic hypertension.

An adjusted analysis showed that participants with higher leg fat had 31% lower odds of isolated diastolic hypertension, 24% lower odds of isolated systolic hypertension, and 34% lower odds of systo-diastolic hypertension.

“If these results are confirmed by larger, more robust studies, and in studies using easily accessible measurement methods like thigh circumference, there is the potential to affect patient care,” said principal investigator, Aayush Visaria, MPH in a press release.2 “Just as waist circumference is used to estimate abdominal fat, thigh circumference may be a useful tool, although it’s a bit cumbersome and not as widely studied in the U.S. population.”

—Amanda Balbi

References:

  1. Visaria A, Lo D, Maniar P. Association between leg adiposity and hypertension subtype in young and middle-aged adults. Paper presented at: American Heart Association’s Hypertension Sessions 2020; September 10-13, 2020; Virtual.
  2. Fatter legs linked to reduced risk of high blood pressure. News release. American Heart Association. September 10, 2020. Accessed September 10, 2020. https://newsroom.heart.org/news/fatter-legs-linked-to-reduced-risk-of-high-blood-pressure