Unexpectedly high rates of obesity and dysglycemia among villagers in Cameroon.
Our survey in Cameroon recorded obesity and dysglycemia in inhabitants, which are similar to those reported elsewhere in the region. Typically these metabolic disturbances are attributed to the adoption of a new urban lifestyle including diminished physical activity and an altered ('Western') diet. Unexpectedly we found that, like urban populations, our rural population had high rates of metabolic disturbances, despite living in villages and being physically active and consuming traditional diet that is high in plant sources of food and low in meat. From our preliminary study, we raise the possibility that the environmental elements that are driving the pandemic of obesity and diabetes in sub-Saharan Africa are far more complex than heretofore appreciated.
Napoli
Nicola
N
Department of Endocrinology and Diabetes, University Campus Bio-Medico, Rome, Italy.
Mottini
Giovanni
G
Arigliani
Michele
M
Creta
Antonio
A
Giua
Renato
R
Incammisa
Antonino
A
Carotti
Simone
S
Sihom
François
F
Yimagou
Isaac
I
Alombah
Richard
R
Mbanya
Jean Claude
JC
Pozzilli
Paolo
P
D017954:Africa South of the Sahara / Q000453:epidemiology; D001786:Blood Glucose / Q000378:metabolism; D015992:Body Mass Index; D002163:Cameroon / Q000453:epidemiology; D002318:Cardiovascular Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology; D048909:Diabetes Complications / Q000453:epidemiology; D003920:Diabetes Mellitus / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000235:genetics; D003925:Diabetic Angiopathies / Q000453:epidemiology; D015444:Exercise; D005260:Female; D018149:Glucose Intolerance / Q000453:epidemiology*; D006801:Humans; D008019:Life Style; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009765:Obesity / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000235:genetics; D012016:Reference Values; D014505:Urban Population / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D055105:Waist Circumference
D001786:Blood Glucose