Failure of Weight Reduction to Reduce Mildly Elevated Blood Pressure: A Randomized Trial

To determine the value of weight reduction on blood pressure, we randomly allocated 60 untreated, mildly hypertensive, obese individuals to a no-treatment control group or to a behaviourly-oriented weight loss ('diet') programme administered by professional dietitians. Behavioural techniques included self-monitoring, shaping, reinforcement and modelling. Subjects were reassessed after six months by an observer who was unaware of their study …