We studied the relationship between waist circumference and hypertension among the Iraqi population in Baghdad. the study was carried out during 1999–2000. Body weight, height, waist circumference, and blood pressure were measured. According to multivariate analyses that included control for age and body mass index, waist circumference for men was positively and significantly correlated with systolic and diastolic blood pressure (r = 0.31 for systolic pressure and r = 0.30 for diastolic pressure; p < .009). for women, the correlations were r = 0.39 for systolic and r = 0.40 for diastolic pressure (p < .001). Intervention programs designed to reduce waist circumference may have significant public health significance in reducing the incidence of hypertension.
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