Underweight Adults With High Blood Pressure Face Risk
A Japanese study links being underweight with elevated blood pressure or hypertension to higher rates of major cardiovascular events.
Updated on Nov. 10, 2026 in Heart Disease
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A study published in Hypertension Research found that being underweight combined with elevated blood pressure or hypertension is associated with increased risk of heart attacks and strokes. The study analyzed 62.6 lakh adults in Japan without prior cardiovascular disease, chronic renal failure, dialysis, or antihypertensive medication use.
Why it matters
Most prevention guidance for hypertension centers on weight control, so underweight patients with elevated blood pressure may be overlooked in risk assessment. The findings suggest cardiovascular risk should be understood across the full range of body mass index.
The study drew on Japan's nationwide claims and health-check database covering January 2005 to October 2023, with underweight defined as a BMI below 18.5. The size of the excess risk and its underlying cause remain unspecified in the available findings.
The details
Researchers examined adults in Japan without prior cardiovascular disease or blood-pressure medication use and found the combination of low body weight and elevated blood pressure or hypertension linked to major cardiovascular events. The increased risk was particularly pronounced among women and adults aged 40 and above.
Timeline
January 2005 to October 2023: Period covered by the Japanese health database analyzed in the study.
Health Landscape
The study adds to a growing body of research challenging hypertension prevention models built mainly around weight gain and obesity. Its findings point to a gap in risk assessment for underweight patients with elevated blood pressure, a group that conventional cardiometabolic guidance may not adequately address.
Adults who are underweight should not assume low body weight protects them from cardiovascular risk, particularly if blood pressure is elevated. Discussing blood pressure readings with a clinician can help clarify individual risk regardless of body weight.
The takeaway
Low body weight does not rule out cardiovascular risk when blood pressure is elevated. Regular blood pressure checks matter at every body size.
Further reading
Explore more on Heart Disease to see how blood pressure and body weight factor into cardiovascular risk.
Source note: This article includes information reported by The Times of India.
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