Obesity in a health center in Guadeloupe (French West Indies). A case control study - Poster abstract

ABSTRACT

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to assess prevalence of obesity in a health center in Guadeloupe and analyse the association of known cardiovascular risk factors. MATERIAL AND METHODS: From a total of675 people aged 18 to 75 years attending a health centre between April and September 1999, 79 obese patients (BMI> 30) and 158 non-obese age and sex matched controls were enrolled. Pregnant patients were excluded. Medical histories were obtained by standardised questionnaire. Body mass index (BMI), waist to hip ratio (WHR), and laboratory measurements were done. RESULTS: Among the 675 subjects, prevalenceof overweight (BMI>25 and<30) was 35.4 percent) formen vs 38.9 percent for women and prevalence of obesity (BMI >30) was 9.7 percent for men vs 18.6 percent for women. Results in cases and controls are shown in the table. A logistic regression revealed that sedentary way of life, hypertension and a WHR>0.90 were cardiovascular risk factors significantly and independently associated with obesity. CONCLUSIONS: These results have shown a high percentage of overweight subjects for whom it is necessary to organize the prevention of cardiovascular disease by the control of hypertension, dietary restriction and exercise training. (Au)