In a retrospective study of 121 hypertensives aged 40-59 years in comparison with 138 controls selected from the population in the same primary care district, male hypertensives had a high odds ratio of cerebro-cardiovascular (CCV) diseases even when their blood pressure had been well treated. The estimated odds ratio (corrected for small numbers) was 13.7 (2.5-76.7). In female hypertensives there was a trend towards more CCV diseases than in their controls. Although the hypertensives' blood pressure was reduced in accordance with what has been internationally accepted, their values were still at least 10-11 mmHg higher than those of the controls. A reduction of this magnitude may be accomplished by (further) weight reduction and, probably, intervention with factors linked to obesity. This may be one way to reduce the excess risk in hypertensives.