Losing weight can lower your blood pressure if you are overweight or obese. Losing weight can also lower your risk of diseases related to high blood pressure. These include heart attack, stroke, and heart failure. Medical experts say you should get to and stay at a healthy weight if you have elevated or high blood pressure.

You should try to lose at least 5% to 15% or more of your body weight if you are overweight or obese. Studies show that for every 2.2 pounds of weight lost, blood pressure goes down by about 1/1 mm Hg. In other words, it goes down by 1 mm Hg for both the top and bottom blood pressure numbers. How much you need to lose depends on your starting weight and blood pressure goal.

Lose the Excess Weight

Losing as little as 10 pounds can lower your blood pressure if you are overweight. It can lower your risk of serious diseases. But losing 5% to 15% of your body weight can make an even bigger difference. When you reach your long-term goal, stay at your healthy weight.

Talk to your doctor about whether you should lose weight. They can help you make a plan for success and stick to it.

You can't lose when you lose the weight!