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Overweight and Obesity in French Hajj Pilgrims

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Abstract

High prevalence of overweight (45%) and obesity (30%) were recorded in French Hajj pilgrims originating from North Africa. Females were significantly more likely to suffer from obesity compared to males. The overall prevalence of obesity among French pilgrims born in North-Africa was twice that of the overall French population. The prevalence of obesity in pilgrims aged 55–64 years and 65 years and over were respectively 38 and 25% compared to 20 and 18% in the corresponding overall French population age classes. The prevalence of diabetes in French pilgrims was five times higher compared to that of the overall French population. This situation prompts us to organize in the next future, pre-Hajj education seminars for diabetics.

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The authors state that they have no conflict of interest.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Institut Hospitalo-Universitaire en Maladies Infectieuses et Tropicales, Hôpital Nord, AP-HM, Marseille, France

    Philippe Gautret, Marie Bauge, Samir Benkouiten, Philippe Parola & Philippe Brouqui

  2. Service de Pathologies Infectieuses et Tropicales, Hôpital d’Instruction des Armées Laveran, Marseille, France

    Fabrice Simon

  3. Department of Nutrition, Metabolic Diseases, Endocrinology, University of Aix-Marseille 2, La Timone Hospital, Marseille, France

    René Valéro

  4. Service des Maladies Infectieuses et Tropicales, AP-HM, Hôpital Nord, Chemin des Bourrelys, 13915, Marseille Cedex 20, France

    Philippe Gautret

Authors
  1. Philippe Gautret
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  2. Marie Bauge
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  3. Fabrice Simon
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  4. Samir Benkouiten
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  5. René Valéro
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  6. Philippe Parola
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  7. Philippe Brouqui
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Correspondence to Philippe Gautret.

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Gautret, P., Bauge, M., Simon, F. et al. Overweight and Obesity in French Hajj Pilgrims. J Immigrant Minority Health 15, 215–218 (2013). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10903-012-9583-9

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10903-012-9583-9

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