[Obesity in Mauritania: epidemiologic aspects].

666 patients are observed at the external consultation of cardiology from january to june 1996: 227 are obese (34.08%), 187 (82.38%) of whom are women, and 40 men (17.62%), the age average of patients is 40.97 years (between 14 years and 91 years) and the weight average is 84.63 Kg (between 61 Kg and 154 Kg). The body mass index is more than 35 (morbid obesity) in 24.67% of cases (22.91% of whom are women, and 1.76% are men. The other risk factors found are: High blood pressure = 72 cases (31.72%) are obese and having high blood pressure 53 (23.35%) of whom female and 19 (8.37%) are male. 104 (23.69%) cases of high blood pressure are lean (9.11% women, 14.58% men). There is a significantly statistic between the two groups. Diabetes: 9 obese patients are diabetic (2.64% female, and 1.32% male. 1.94% of lean patient are diabetic. We notice a significantly statistic differences between the two groups. For other risk factors we find: 1.76% of tobacco dependent patients are obese where as 3.64% are lean. 0.88% of hypercholesterolemia and 0.44% of hyper uricemia.