Obesity in black women in Soweto, South Africa: minimal effects on hypertension, hyperlipidaemia and hyperglycaemia.
Studies were made on 50 South African urban black obese women aged 25-40 years, with Body Mass Index (BMI) (Kg/m2) of 29.5 or more, and on 50 non-obese women with BMI of 25 or less. In the two groups, mean triceps skinfolds were 25.5mm and 17.8mm, respectively. Hypertension (greater than or equal to 160/95mm Hg) was present in 6 and 4 women (12% and 8%), hypercholesterolaemia (greater than or equal to 5.2mmol/l) in 5 and 3 women (10% and 6%), hypertriglyceridaemia (greater than or equal to 1.8mmol/l) in 5 and 3 (10% and 6%), and hyperglycaemia (greater than or equal to 7.8mmol/l) in 2 and 1 women (4% and 2%). One or more adverse sequelae were present in 11 (22%) obese and in 9 (18%) of non-obese women, proportions not significantly different. Dietarily, mean daily intakes were--Kcals 2273 and 2240, protein 73g and 70g (12.9% and 12.5% energy), fat 65g and 67g (25.7% and 26.9% energy), carbohydrate 349g and 330g (61.4% and 60.5% energy), and dietary fibre, 12g and 13g. In this low socioeconomic and low fat dietary context, obesity in the black women studied was not specifically evocative of deleterious sequelae of obesity.
Walker
A R
AR
Department of Tropical Pathology, School of Pathology, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg.
Walker
B F
BF
Manetsi
B
B
Tsotetsi
N G
NG
Walker
A J
AJ
D000328:Adult; D044383:Black People; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006943:Hyperglycemia / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology; D006949:Hyperlipidemias / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology; D006973:Hypertension / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology; D009765:Obesity / Q000150:complications / Q000453:epidemiology*; D013019:South Africa / Q000453:epidemiology