Abstract: Objective To explore whether the increase of body mass index(BMI)and waistcircum ferences(WC) can predict the higher risk of hypertension in residents of Nanjing.Methods Population based cross sectional study was conducted in local residents older then 35 years in three urban districts and one rural county in July 2004.The subjects with out hypertension in the base line survey were selected to participate the follow-up survey in Oct.2007.Logistic regression models were used to estmiate the relative risk(RR)of developing hyper tension associated with BMI and WC in ba seline and the three year change of BMI and WC.Results The cumulative hypertention incidence of men and women was 6.0% and 5.4%,respectively(χ²=0.32,P>0.05)during the 3 years of follow-up.The risk of developing hypertension rose with the increase of either BMI or WC in ba seline.Compared with the group with neither general obesity(defined by BMI) norabdominal obesity(defined by WC),the group with both general obesity and abdominal obesity had the highe strisk(for male,RR=2.395,95%CI:1.672~3 341,for female,RR=2.550,95%CI=1.809~3.395).Conclusion Over weight and abdominal obesity were miportant independent risk factors of hypertension.The increase of BMI and WC can predict the higher risk of the development of hypertension.