Obesity and other risk factors for cardiovascular diseases among Africans: results from CARDIAC study in Tanzania

Abstract Objective : To investigate the prevalence of obesity and central adiposity and to assess if any significant relationship exists between obesity and other risk factors for cardiovascular diseases (CVD) in an African population. Methods : A cross-sectional, epidemiological study was conducted in three distinct areas: urban, rural and a pastoralist population in Tanzania. Results : The overall prevalence of obesity (body mass index (BMI)≥30 kg/m 2 ) was 14.2% and that of adiposity was 16.9%. Of the obese participants, 40.5% had reached higher education levels and 59.1% lived in the urban area. Significant hypertension (48.1%), hypercholesterolemia (32.4%), hypertriglyceridemia (20.3%), elevated LDL-C (33.8%), and hyperglycemia (4.6%) were seen among obese participants. Elevated plasma leptin concentration and low REE were observed among obese participants. Conclusion : Obesity, associated with significant biochemical derangement, is now a health problem in Tanzania. Effective strategies for primary prevention of obesity need to be introduced, especially in urban areas in Tanzania.