Obesity and overweight are major public health problems and causes of death worldwide, especially in low- and middle-income countries [1] . According to the World Health Organization (WHO), an estimated 1900 million adults worldwide are overweight, and 650 million are obese [2] . Obesity and overweight are associated with a higher risk of diabetes, hypertension and other chronic diseases [3] , and their association with other cardiovascular risk factors leads to increased morbidity and mortality [4] [5] . In Africa, obesity and overweight are on the increase.

In Senegal, the STEPS survey in 2015 showed a prevalence of 6.4% with 2.5% in men and 10.0% in women [6] .

In 2013 in Saint Louis, Pessinaba et al. found a prevalence of obesity (23%) [7] . In a study carried out in Guéoul in 2018 on the prevalence of cardiovascular risk factors in semi-rural areas, the prevalence of obesity was found to be 13% [8] . Eleven years later, we thought it would be interesting to study obesity and overweight in a semi-urban area very close to the city of Dakar.

The aim of this study was to investigate the epidemiological aspect of obesity, overweight and associated risk factors in a semi-urban area (Sébikotane).

The main limitation of the present study lies in the number of people and places studied in Sébikotane, and may therefore not be representative of the urban population as a whole. During the present study, obesity and overweight affected 28% and 33.2% of volunteers respectively. This prevalence of obesity and overweight in the present study is higher than those reported among studies carried out in Africa. Thus, in Guinea Bissau, the overall prevalence of obesity was 12.8% [13] , in Burkina Faso in 2013 (24.5% overweight and 12.5% obese), and in Malawi (23.2% overweight and 12.0% obese) [14] [15] . An earlier study in Dakar showed 19.2% overweight and 9.7% obese [16] [17] . We note a clear increase in this prevalence. Moreover, obesity and overweight affected 61.3% of the Sébikotane population. We believe that this disparity may be due to differences in eating habits or lack of physical activity. Obesity and overweight are more prevalent among women, with 128 (31%) and 136 (33%) respectively. This finding is the same as in other countries. In Guinea Bissau, the overall prevalence of obesity was almost four times higher in women than in men (20.6% versus 5.5%) [13] . In Ibadan, Nigeria, 42% of women and 14% of men were obese [17] . In South Africa, a study of obesity showed similar findings, but with a much higher prevalence of 53.4% and 18.7% in women and men respectively [18] . In Senegal, obesity or overweight is considered a sign of prosperity, good health or beauty in women, or of good social integration [19] . For some, female predominance has been linked to marital status, multiple pregnancies and hormonal changes, particularly after the menopause, and to socio-cultural practices, perceptions and norms [20] . In our study, menopause was present in 48.5% of cases. In the STEPS survey in 2015, obesity was 6.4% with 2.5% in men and 10.0% in women [6] . In Okafor’s study in Nigeria, obesity, overweight and underweight were found in 17%, 31% and 5% of participants respectively [21] . In our study, 4.1% of volunteers were underweight. Similarly, in Uchenna, only 4% of the study population was underweight [22] . In a study carried out in north-eastern Nigeria, the prevalence of underweight was 29.1% [23] . The mean age was 49.55 years, with a standard deviation of 12.41 years. The age group [40 - 49 years] was the most representative with 85 cases (30.1%), followed by the age group [50 - 59 years] with 78 cases (27.7%). For Okafor, obesity is also noted, with peaks in the [35 - 44] and [45 - 54] age groups [21] . Obesity and overweight are on the rise among young people. In our study, 5% of obese volunteers were under 30. The figure was 13% in the [20 - 29] age group, and 17% were overweight. This finding is similar to that of some authors, who found that 4.3% of young people were obese [21] .

In a study in South Africa, 14.8% (21.1% and 7.8% boys) were overweight and 2.8% obese among young people [24] . Primary education was the most common, accounting for 46.3% of cases. Uneducated volunteers were the most represented among the overweight (36%). Education about the harmful effects of overweight and obesity is needed in this population to reduce morbidity and mortality. In his study in Guinea, Turé et al. found no apparent difference in the prevalence of overweight and obesity among individuals with different levels of education [13] . Shopkeepers were the most represented with 43.9%. The higher prevalence of obesity among people with higher income levels is described in studies [25] . It is described that individuals with higher income levels in Africa tend to turn to diets rich in fats, oils and sugar, as well as animal products rich in saturated fats (diets commonly referred to as “Western diets”), and are much less active [26] . Abdominal obesity was present in 136 cases (29.6%). Elsewhere, abdominal obesity was 71.5% and 23.4% respectively, in women and men [18] . The proportion of morbid obesity was lower (3.9%). Obesity is associated with vascular, respiratory and arthritic complications. Obesity is a risk factor for premature death in people under 65, and for many cardiovascular and non-cardiovascular disorders, including several types of cancer [18] . A high Body Mass Index (BMI) is associated with a higher risk of diabetes, hypertension and other chronic diseases [3] . These two conditions have the same determinants (poor diet), and potentiate their deleterious actions on the body (particularly on the heart, brain, kidneys∙∙∙). All these factors increase the risk of death. In our study, diabetes was present in 23% of volunteers. Sow et al. [27] in their study found overweight in 30.3% and obese in 22.5%. In Ka et al.’s study, the rates of obesity and overweight were 5.9% and 2.4% respectively [28] . In Mbaye et al.’s series, the prevalence of obesity and overweight was 23.0% [29] . In our study, arterial hypertension was present in ninety-five cases (33.7%). Among hypertensives, 28.4% were obese and 23.5% were overweight. In the study by Charfeddine et al, the prevalence of hypertension among obese adults was 36% [30] . Yayehd et al. in Togo found 22.1% obese, with a significant female predominance [31] . In Libreville, obesity was reported in 27.4% [32] . Only one case of smoking is present among obese and overweight people. The association between alcohol consumption, smoking and obesity is not consistent [20] . Abdominal obesity was present in almost all of the study population (90.1%). In fact, central obesity has been recognized as an independent risk factor for cardio-metabolic disease and a better predictor of cardiovascular risk than overall obesity [33] . This risk also exists in the combination of normal weight and central obesity [34] . The number of cardiovascular risk factors was greater than or equal to 3 in 14.2%. This figure shows that almost half the population is exposed to cardiovascular disease.

The authors declare no conflicts of interest regarding the publication of this paper.

Sow, D., Ndiaye, N., Leye, M.Y., Camara, M.D., Ndour, M.A., Dieng, M., Saou, H., Fall, N., Djiba, B., Diédhiou, D., Diallo, I., Sarr, A., Ndour, M.M. and Leye, A. (2024) Epidemiological Aspects of Obesity, Overweight and Cardiovascular Risk Factors at Associes in Semi-Urban Areas (Case of Sébikotane). Food and Nutrition Sciences, 15, 390-400. https://doi.org/10.4236/fns.2024.155026