This study aims to assess the influence of Urbanization, urban migration and ethnicity on the obesity prevalence in the ethnic group in a Moroccan large city. We used a sampling of 304 adults, based on the ethnicity, gender and age. Anthropometric and body composition’s parameters were measured; obesity and abdominal obesity (AO) were defined according to WHO body mass index (BMI) and waist-to-hip ratio (WHR) cut-offs. Also, the cut-off points of body-fat percent (%BF) were determined. Prevalence of obesity and high %BF were much higher in women than in men (38.3vs.13.5% and 83.9vs.61.9% respectively). Adjusted AO and high %BF prevalence’s were greatest in men with intermediate residence’s time in town (OR=4.13[1.33-12.32] and 3.90[1.58-9.66]). In women, adjusted AO prevalence was lowest in second’s generation of Soussi migrant (OR=0.24[0.04- 0.67]). These results allow us to conclude that anthropometric and body statuses of our population depend on the time spent in town for men. While in women, it was more related to their ethnicity-migration status.
