Abstract
Background
Research suggests that obesity, physical inactivity, anxiety (psychological tension), and a poor diet are associated with
high blood pressure (BP). Although medication is the treatment of choice, behavioral methods might also improve BP in individuals
with both prehypertension and hypertension.
high blood pressure (BP). Although medication is the treatment of choice, behavioral methods might also improve BP in individuals
with both prehypertension and hypertension.
Methods
Severely obese women from the southeast USA (N = 155; M
age = 45 years; Mbody mass index (BMI) = 41 kg/m2) that fulfilled criteria for either prehypertension (n = 96) or hypertension (n = 59) volunteered for a Young Men’s Christian Association-based exercise and nutrition support treatment that also included
instruction in stress-management methods.
age = 45 years; Mbody mass index (BMI) = 41 kg/m2) that fulfilled criteria for either prehypertension (n = 96) or hypertension (n = 59) volunteered for a Young Men’s Christian Association-based exercise and nutrition support treatment that also included
instruction in stress-management methods.
Results
Significant (p values of ≤0.001) within-group improvements over 26 weeks in tension, overall mood, exercise volume, fruit and vegetable
consumption, BMI, and systolic and diastolic BP were found. There were significant (p values of <0.05) bivariate correlations between improvements in tension, overall mood, volume of exercise, fruit and vegetable
intake, BMI, and systolic and diastolic BP improvements. Multiple regression analyses, separately entering changes in tension
and overall mood along with changes in volume of exercise, fruit and vegetable intake, and BMI, explained 19 and 20 % of the
variances in systolic BP, respectively, (p values of <0.001) and 8 % of the variances, each (p values of ≤0.02), in diastolic BP. In each multiple regression equation, improvements in the psychological factors of tension
and overall mood demonstrated the greatest independent contribution to the variances accounted for in BP improvements.
consumption, BMI, and systolic and diastolic BP were found. There were significant (p values of <0.05) bivariate correlations between improvements in tension, overall mood, volume of exercise, fruit and vegetable
intake, BMI, and systolic and diastolic BP improvements. Multiple regression analyses, separately entering changes in tension
and overall mood along with changes in volume of exercise, fruit and vegetable intake, and BMI, explained 19 and 20 % of the
variances in systolic BP, respectively, (p values of <0.001) and 8 % of the variances, each (p values of ≤0.02), in diastolic BP. In each multiple regression equation, improvements in the psychological factors of tension
and overall mood demonstrated the greatest independent contribution to the variances accounted for in BP improvements.
- Content Type Journal Article
- Pages 1-6
- DOI 10.1007/s12529-012-9240-7
- Authors
- James J. Annesi, YMCA of Metropolitan Atlanta, 100 Edgewood Avenue, NE, Suite 1100, Atlanta, GA, USA
- Journal International Journal of Behavioral Medicine
- Online ISSN 1532-7558
- Print ISSN 1070-5503