REN and Hypertension: 2013). Hypertension itself is a highly significant risk factor for the development of all manifestations of cardiovascular disease, including coronary heart disease, stroke and heart failure. The etiology of obesity‐induced hypertension includes insulin‐ and leptin‐mediated increases in sympathetic nervous system activity as well as an increased renin‐angiotensin‐aldosterone system activity (Hall et al. 2010).