Weight gain among Mauritanian women, particularly Arab-Mauritanian women, remains a major public health concern. This phenomenon is largely explained by its cultural valorization, as it is perceived as a symbol of beauty and social prestige. This study aimed to assess the prevalence of weight gain and to identify the associated risk factors, including overall and abdominal, among women of reproductive age residing in urban areas of Mauritania. We conducted a cross-sectional survey of 1166 women of childbearing age (15–49 years) residing in Nouakchott, Mauritania. The study combined the use of a questionnaire with precise anthropometrics measurements, and body mass index (BMI), waist circumference (WC) and waist to hip ratio (WHR) were used as indicators to assess overweight, obesity and abdominal obesity based on WHO classification and IDF Classification criteria. Multivariate logistic regression analysis was performed to assess risk factors for overweight, obesity and abdominal obesity. The mean age (± SD) of these women was 31.8 (± 7.3) years. The prevalence rates for overweight and obesity were 31.6% and 39% respectively, while for abdominal obesity, determined by waist circumference (WC) and waist-to-hip circumference ratio (WHR), the prevalence rates were 85.4% and 67.2% respectively. The results reveal a significant association between age and both BMI and abdominal obesity (p < 0.001). In the regression analysis, marital status (married and divorced) (reference: single), low level of education (reference: higher education), as well as the age ranges 19–49 (reference: 15–18), were identified as significant risk factors for overweight, obesity and abdominal obesity based on WC and WHR. The high prevalence of overweight, obesity and abdominal obesity among women of childbearing age living in Nouakchott, Mauritania is a cause for serious concern. This worrying trend is strongly correlated with age (19–49 years), marital status and low level of education. These findings underscore the urgent need for health policies specifically targeted at these women, aimed at reversing this alarming trend and anticipating the resulting health Complications.
Issa et al. (Tue,) studied this question.