Summary
This cross-sectional study of 1,000 adults in Nouakchott, Mauritania documents high prevalence of modifiable cancer-related risk factors, including excess body weight (66.6% overweight or obese), abdominal adiposity (58.0% with increased waist circumference), physical inactivity (64.7%), and unfavourable dietary patterns (66.8% high red meat consumption, 67.5% daily refined cereals, 13.8% limited fresh fruit). The findings highlight the burden of nutritional and lifestyle risk factors in an urbanising low-middle-income setting and underscore the need for primary prevention interventions targeting diet, physical activity and tobacco control.
Regional applicability
This study documents cancer-related risk factors in a low-middle-income urban African setting; findings are not directly transferable to United Kingdom populations, which have different dietary norms, activity patterns and cancer epidemiology. However, the high prevalence of obesity, physical inactivity and processed food consumption observed may inform global perspectives on nutritional transition and inform public health strategies in similar urban contexts.
Key measures
Body mass index, waist circumference, waist-to-hip ratio, physical activity level, smoking status, dietary intake (red meat, refined cereals, sugar-sweetened beverages, fresh fruit), age, sex, residential wilaya
Outcomes reported
The study measured the frequency of nutritional, behavioural and anthropometric cancer-related risk factors (body weight, abdominal adiposity, physical activity, smoking, dietary habits) among 1,000 adults in Nouakchott. Prevalence estimates were stratified by sex, age group and residential location.
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