from WHO-ISH 1999 Guidelines

Weight reduction
Excess body fat contributes to blood pressure levels from infancy and is the most important factor predisposing to hypertension. Weight reduction of as little as 5 kg reduces blood pressure in a large proportion of hypertensive individuals who are more than 10% overweight and also has a beneficial effect on associated risk factors such as insulin resistance, diabetes, hyperlipidaemia and left ventricular hypertrophy. The blood pressure lowering effects of weight reduction may be enhanced by simultaneous increase in physical exercise, by alcohol moderation in overweight drinkers, and by reduction of sodium intake in older hypertensive subjects (TONE Study). Weight loss of at least 5 kg should be recommended in the first instance, with further increments of 5 kg depending upon the response and the patients' weight.