The risk for high blood pressure is greater for obese and overweight people younger than 65. Individuals 65 and older, weight had little to do with systolic blood pressure.

Researchers examined whether race and age, risk factors for obesity and hypertension, affect the association of obesity with elevated blood pressure (BP). Researchers conducted a study of adult patients seen at 6 Maryland primary care clinics from September 2011 through June 2012. The risk for higher BP among patients younger than 65 years and in an elevated weight category was greater for both blacks and whites but was higher for whites than blacks. For patients aged 65 years or older, weight had little impact on systolic BP, suggesting the focus on those younger than 65 should focus on weight loss to lower systolic BP. However, weight loss may lower the diastolic BP of blacks and whites, regardless of age.