We have studied 316 class III obese patients (91% women), consecutively admitted in an obesity clinic from a University Hospital during 8 years. The mean±SD age was 37±10 years and body mass index (BMI) 47±6kg/m2. Half of them had a history of obesity since childhood or puberty. Arterial hypertension was detected in 66%, type 2 diabetes in 13.9%, impaired glucose tolerance in 16.8%; high cholesterol and triglyceride levels (³ 200mg/dl) in 33.5% and 8% respectively, low HDL-cholesterol (<40mg/dl) in 33.9% […]