Researchers followed over 2,500 older adults in China for 5 years to see how their weight affected their blood pressure and blood sugar levels. They found that people who maintained a healthy weight had better results than those who stayed overweight. Even people with medium weight gain showed increases in blood pressure and blood sugar compared to those who kept their weight stable and low. The study suggests that keeping a healthy weight becomes increasingly important as we age to prevent serious health problems like high blood pressure and diabetes.

The Quick Take

  • What they studied: How a person’s weight pattern over time affects their blood pressure and blood sugar levels as they get older
  • Who participated: 2,576 older Chinese adults (average age 68 years old) living in Shanghai who were tracked from 2014 to 2022
  • Key finding: People who maintained a healthy weight had much better blood pressure and blood sugar control than those who stayed overweight. Even people with medium weight had higher blood pressure increases (about 5 points) compared to those with low, stable weight.
  • What it means for you: If you’re over 60, keeping your weight stable and in a healthy range may help prevent high blood pressure and diabetes. This doesn’t mean extreme dieting, but rather maintaining a consistent, healthy weight over time.

The Research Details

This was a cohort study, which means researchers followed the same group of people over time to see what happened to them. The scientists measured the weight of 2,576 older adults in 2014, 2015, and 2016 to figure out their weight pattern (whether they stayed light, medium, or heavy). Then they tracked these same people every year until 2022—about 5 years total—measuring their blood pressure and blood sugar levels annually.

The researchers divided people into three groups based on their weight pattern: those with consistently low weight (418 people), those with medium weight (1,806 people), and those with high weight (352 people). By comparing how blood pressure and blood sugar changed in each group over time, they could see if weight pattern made a difference.

The study used advanced statistical methods to account for other factors that might affect blood pressure and blood sugar, like age, sex, and other health conditions. This helps make sure the results were really about weight and not other things.

This research approach is important because it follows real people over several years, which is much better than just taking a snapshot at one moment in time. By measuring weight multiple times before tracking health outcomes, the researchers could see actual weight patterns—not just whether someone was heavy or light at one point. This helps us understand if staying at a certain weight is what matters, or if gaining or losing weight is what affects health.

This study has several strengths: it included a large number of people (over 2,500), followed them for a reasonable length of time (5 years), and measured health markers regularly. The researchers adjusted for many other factors that could affect the results. However, the study only included Chinese adults, so results might be different for other populations. Also, the study was observational, meaning researchers watched what happened naturally rather than assigning people to different diets or exercise programs.

What the Results Show

The study found clear connections between weight patterns and future health problems. People who maintained a medium weight (around 24.5 BMI) had their systolic blood pressure (the top number) increase by about 5 points more than people with low, stable weight. Those with high weight (around 28.8 BMI) had slightly smaller increases in systolic pressure (about 4 points more), but this might be because fewer people stayed in the high-weight group over time.

For diastolic blood pressure (the bottom number), the increases were smaller but still noticeable. People with medium weight had about 1 point more increase, while those with high weight had about 2 points more increase compared to the low-weight group.

Blood sugar levels also increased more in people with higher weights. Those with medium weight had blood sugar increases of 0.2 mmol/L more than the low-weight group, while those with high weight had 0.3 mmol/L more increase. While these numbers might sound small, they add up over time and can increase the risk of developing diabetes.

Interestingly, the effects were different depending on a person’s age and sex, suggesting that weight management might be especially important for certain groups of older adults.

The study found that the relationship between weight and health changes varied by sex and age. This means that weight management might be more critical for some older adults than others. The researchers also noted that maintaining a stable weight pattern was important—it wasn’t just about being heavy or light at one moment, but about staying consistent over time.

This research supports what other studies have shown: maintaining a healthy weight is important for preventing high blood pressure and diabetes. However, this study is unique because it specifically looked at weight patterns in older Chinese adults over several years, rather than just comparing heavy and light people at one point in time. The findings align with general health guidelines that recommend weight management as a key way to prevent metabolic diseases.

This study only included older adults in Shanghai, China, so the results might not apply exactly the same way to younger people or people from other countries with different genetics or lifestyles. The study was observational, meaning researchers couldn’t prove that weight changes directly caused the blood pressure and blood sugar changes—only that they were connected. People who stayed in the study might be healthier than those who dropped out, which could affect the results. Additionally, the study didn’t measure other important factors like diet, exercise, or stress levels, which also affect blood pressure and blood sugar.

The Bottom Line

Based on this research, older adults should aim to maintain a healthy, stable weight. This appears to be more important than dramatic weight loss or gain. The evidence suggests that keeping your weight consistent in a healthy range may help prevent increases in blood pressure and blood sugar as you age. However, these findings are most applicable to older adults similar to the study population. Anyone making significant lifestyle changes should consult with their doctor, especially if they have existing health conditions.

This research is most relevant for adults over 60 who are concerned about preventing high blood pressure and diabetes. It’s especially important for those with family histories of these conditions. The findings may be less directly applicable to younger adults or people from very different ethnic backgrounds, though the general principle of weight management remains important for everyone. People already diagnosed with high blood pressure or diabetes should definitely discuss weight management with their healthcare provider.

Changes in blood pressure and blood sugar don’t happen overnight. This study tracked people over 5 years, so you should expect to see meaningful changes in health markers over months to years, not weeks. Maintaining a healthy weight consistently over time appears to be what matters most, rather than quick fixes.

Want to Apply This Research?

  • Track your weight weekly on the same day and time, and record your average weight monthly. Set a target weight range (discuss with your doctor) and aim to stay within that range rather than focusing on losing or gaining weight. This helps you see your weight pattern over time, which is what matters according to this research.
  • Instead of thinking about weight loss, focus on weight stability. Use the app to set a healthy weight goal range and track whether you’re staying consistent. This might involve small daily habits like regular walking, consistent meal timing, or portion awareness—whatever helps you maintain a stable weight.
  • Check your weight monthly and look at the trend over 3-6 months rather than day-to-day changes. If your weight is creeping up over several months, that’s a signal to make small adjustments. If you have access to blood pressure monitoring, track that quarterly or as recommended by your doctor. Some apps can integrate with blood pressure monitors to show you the connection between weight stability and blood pressure changes.

This research suggests an association between weight patterns and blood pressure/blood sugar changes in older adults, but it does not prove that weight changes directly cause these health changes. This information is for educational purposes and should not replace professional medical advice. If you have high blood pressure, diabetes, or are considering making significant changes to your weight or lifestyle, please consult with your healthcare provider first. Individual results may vary based on genetics, medications, and other health factors. This study was conducted in a Chinese population, so results may differ for other ethnic groups.