How does obesity contribute to hypertension?

Obesity contributes to hypertension primarily by altering fluid balance and kidney function. When an individual is obese, various physiological changes occur, including an increase in blood volume, which can raise blood pressure. Excess fat tissue also releases inflammatory substances that can promote vascular resistance, further contributing to elevated blood pressure.

Increased body weight can lead to changes in kidney function, where the kidneys may retain more sodium and water. This retention increases blood volume and can result in higher blood pressure. Additionally, the kidneys play a crucial role in regulating blood pressure by managing fluid and electrolyte balance, and an impairment in their function due to obesity can disrupt this balance, exacerbating hypertension.

In contrast, the other options do not directly correlate with the primary mechanisms through which obesity influences hypertension. Weight loss does not contribute to hypertension; rather, it is typically linked to reducing the risk of high blood pressure. While obesity may increase metabolism, the relationship is not directly tied to hypertension. Lastly, hormonal changes do occur in obesity, such as alterations in leptin and insulin levels, but these changes primarily contribute to metabolic adjustments rather than directly explaining the hypertension mechanism as effectively as kidney function and fluid balance.