title: Obesity and its related factors among women from popular neighborhoods in Casablanca, Morocco.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Study of overweight and obesity among women from modest neighborhoods in Casablanca and the related factors influencing this phenomenon.
  
  
  METHODS
  A survey was conducted in 6 neighborhoods of Casablanca using multistage cluster sampling. Anthropometric parameters and body composition were measured, and information about food habits, sociodemographic situation and body image perception were collected using a questionnaire.
  
  
  METHODS
  425 adult women from popular neighborhoods in Casablanca.
  
  
  RESULTS
  We found a prevalence of 47% obesity and 36% overweight. Obesity and overweight exceeded 80% in all age categories except among women < 25 years, where we found a prevalence of 44% overweight. Furthermore, abdominal obesity prevalence was high in all age categories with an overall prevalence of 67%. Body image perception data showed that 62% women perceived their weight as being either normal or insufficient, 46% of those women were, in fact, either overweight or obese. Fattening products were used by 12% of the population at least once, especially by women < 35 years, 68% of these women were overweight or obese at the time of the study.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The problem of obesity in this society is amplified by its perception of a regular weight and by the use of fattening substances even among young and educated women.
authors.affiliation: Université Hassan II Mohammedia Casablanca, Faculté des Sciences Ben M'sik, Laboratoire de recherche sur les lipoproteines et I'athérosclérose (URAC 34), Casablanca, Morocco.
authors.forename: Ali
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Jafri
authors.forename: Mohamed
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Jabari
authors.forename: Mohammed
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Dahhak
authors.forename: Rachid
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Saile
authors.forename: Abdelfettah
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Derouiche
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D001823:Body Composition; D001828:Body Image; D015992:Body Mass Index; D001835:Body Weight; D004041:Dietary Fats; D004522:Educational Status; D005260:Female; D006306:Health Surveys; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D009018:Morocco / Q000453:epidemiology; D009765:Obesity / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology*; D056128:Obesity, Abdominal / Q000453:epidemiology; D015995:Prevalence; D018709:Statistics, Nonparametric; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D055105:Waist Circumference; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D004041:Dietary Fats