*WINNER* Is There a Relationship Between BMI and Blood Pressure

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to determine if there was a relationship between body mass index (BMI) and systolic blood pressure. A strong correlation between these measurements would allow us to educate the population on the effects of BMI on hypertension, helping the population counteract the effects of hypertension. The study included 16 Exercise Science majors ranging in age from 20 to 33. Participants were initially surveyed to determine if they had followed requested protocol, which included abstaining from food, alcohol, nicotine, caffeine, and participation in exercise 30-minutes before testing. Each participant’s blood pressure was taken, along with his or her height and weight to calculate BMI. The results showed that there was a positive and moderate relationship between BMI and systolic blood pressure (r = .45). In conclusion, the results indicated that BMI lacked explanatory power on a person’s blood pressure.