[Obesity in women].

Obesity has become an important problem of public health in all developed countries. It has slightly different connotations in women because, apart from its greater prevalence, low socio-economic level is a risk factor solely for women. As well as a cardiovascular risk factor in women, it is associated with an increased risk of breast cancer, cancer of the endometrium, ovarian polycystosis and infertility. Weight control in women has a large aesthetic motivation and eating has considerable emotional components. On the other hand, women consume more drugs (contraceptives, painkillers, migraine treatments, anxiolytics, anti-depressants) which seem to favour obesity. The role played in the pathogenesis of obesity by cyclical hormonal changes, pregnancy, the consumption of oral contraceptives and the menopause remains to be clarified. The effect of replacement hormone therapy as a cause of weight gain is doubtful.