Abstract: Objective To evaluate whether the risk of hypertension in individuals with central obesity is high than those with nounal waist cireum ference (WC) within the sam a body mass index (BMI) categories.Methods Questionnaire and body measurem entwere used to collecte data 30,686 adults participated in Chinese Chronic Disease and Risk Factors Surveillance (2004) were included in the analysis and grouped by BMI and WC.Odds ratio for hypertension was computed within nouna by eight(18.5-23.9),overiveight(24.0-27.9) and obesity(≥28) BMI category and subjects with noun al WC and abdomen obesity were compared.Results Within noun alweight and ovemveight BMI categories,compared with those with nounal WC,male subjects with central obesity had higher prevalence rates of hypertension (26.1%,32.0% and 49.2%,respectively; P<0.0l) and higher hypertension risk(adjusted ORs=1.9 and 1.6,respectively; P<0.01).Within the three BMI categories,female subjects with central obesity had higher prevalence rate of hypertension (22.5%,28.2% and 41.5; P<0.01) andhigherhypertensionrisk(adjusted ORs=1.5,1.4 and 2.5; P<0.05).Conclusion The risk of hypertension in individuals with central obesity is high than those with nounal waist circum ference within three BMI categories.