A recent study, published in the American Journal of Hypertension, has revealed that eating out too often may be linked to high blood pressure or hypertension. Researchers from the Duke-NUS Graduate Medical School Singapore have observed that there is a connection between meals away from home and a higher intake of salt, a higher intake of calories and a higher intake of saturated fat, all of which are linked with hypertension.

In the study, the researchers looked at the eating behaviors that raised the risk of high blood pressure in 500 subjects aged between 18 and 40 years. They also took into consideration lifestyle factors and the body mass index levels of the participants.

Then, they calculated the total number of meals taken by participants at home and outside and their physical activity levels.

Researchers did a detailed analysis, and concluded that 27.4% of the subjects experienced pre-hypertension. They also found that 38% of the participants had dined out over 12 times every week.

They noticed that men are more likely to dine out as compared to women. There were about 49% of men who opted eating out in comparison to 9% of women.

Furthermore, they also observed that pre-hypertensive participants ate out more often, had low physical activity levels and a higher body mass index than their counterparts, who had normal blood pressure levels.

During the study, researchers found that a single additional meal out each week led to 6% increase in the risk of high blood pressure.

Researchers have suggested all to spread awareness about the disadvantages of eating out often and eating high sodium and high fat foods to bring down blood pressure levels to normal ranges. They have also recommended people to follow an exercise schedule in order to stay healthy.