Objective To examine the relationship between overweight or obesity and the risk of the various hypertension hemodynamic subtypes in Vi farmers and migrants. Methods A cross-sectional study of 2 358 Vi farmers and 1 392 Vi migrants was carried out in the Liangshan Yi autonomous prefecture, Sichuan, China in 2007. Results The standardized prevalence of overweight in female Yi farmers (6.22%) was higher than in males (3.15%), whereas in Yi migrants 31.56% of males and 18.78% of females were overweight. The standardized prevalence of obesity was 0 and 0.61% in male and female Yi farmers, compared to 3.91% and 5.57% in male and female Yi migrants, respectively. For both genders the standardized prevalence of ISH, IDH, and SDH was higher in Vi migrants than Vi farmers. Overweight and obese Vi men and women had a higher risk for IDH and SDH (P<0.001) than non-overweight /obese individuals. However, an association of overweight or obesity with ISH was observed only in men. Conclusion Yi migrants have substantially higher proportion of overweight and obese individuals, as well as individuals affected by ISH, IDH, and SDH, than do Vi farmers. Overweight and obesity are significant risk factors for the development of hypertension in Vi people.