[Urbanization and nutritional transition in sub-saharan Africa: exemplified by Congo and Senegal]

To evaluate the impact of urban life-style on nutritional status, body mass index (BMI) of mothers and indices of malnutrition of preschool children were calculated in four representative surveys in two rural areas and two main cities of Western and Central Africa. Mean BMIs were similar in both urban settings and were significantly higher than those of rural mothers. Distributions shifted significantly towards values over 25 kgs/m2 in towns, although, values lower than 18.5 were still present. Therefore chronic energy deficiency, largely prevalent in many rural areas of Africa, remains important in cities, where obesity also appears to have become a public health concern. Wasting was rare in young urban children, but the prevalence of stunting, although lower, indicates the persistence of nutritional deficiencies. This situation of nutritional transition generates a double burden to already limited health finances and requires an appropriate educational policy.