A study performed at the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine found that bariatric surgery is directly correlated with decreased blood pressure, even in patients who are still considered to be at an obese weight.

Researchers followed 347 bariatric patients who had undergone gastric bypass surgery or vertical banded gastroplasty between the years of 1992 and 2001. Of the patients surveyed, half reported high blood pressure problems prior to their surgeries and some of these patients underwent subsequent blood pressure lowering treatment.

All patients involved in the nine-year study had a body mass index of 40 or above.

Results after an 18-month grace period following the surgery showed a considerable reduction in blood pressure levels in patients who had not received any treatment in addition to their surgery.

Patients who had taken blood pressure lowering medications also experienced a noticeable drop in blood pressure levels and were often able to terminate treatment.

“The overall incidence of hypertension [high blood pressure] after bariatric surgery declines substantially and remains low,” reported a researcher involved with the study.

According to the study, evident lowering of blood pressure levels appears to occur when patients reach a body mass index of 35, a level that is still defined as obese.