Atherosclerosis Underlying Development Assessed by Intima-Media Thickness in Patients on Rimonabant

Inclusion Criteria: * Written and signed informed consent * Age greater than or equal to 55 years * Abdominal obesity defined by waist circumference \> 88 cm (35 inches) in women and \> 102 cm (40 inches) in men * Metabolic syndrome diagnosed on the basis of at least two of the following additional risk factors: 1. Triglyceride level equal to or greater than 150 mg/dL 2. HDL cholesterol less than 40 mg/dL in men or 50 mg/dL in women 3. Fasting glucose of equal to or greater than 110 mg/dL 4. High blood pressure defined as equal to or greater than 140 mmHg systolic and/or equal to or greater than 90 mmHg diastolic at screening visit or current treatment by antihypertensive medication. * Ultrasonographic evidence at Screening quantitative B-mode ultrasound imaging of a minimal CIMT measurement of greater than or equal to 0.7 mm in either of the far walls of the common carotid artery, and maximal CIMT measurement less than 3 mm in any carotid artery segment. * All 6 carotid artery segments must have ultrasound images for all CIMT measurements * Screening CIMT recording deemed to be of acceptable CIMT image quality, and demonstrating adherence to the CIMT interrogation protocol, as determined by the Imaging Core Laboratory's assessment. Exclusion Criteria: * History of very low calorie diet or surgical procedures for weight loss within 6 months prior to screening visit * Obesity of known endocrine origin * Uncontrolled diabetes, i.e. with HbA1c \> 10% * Anticipated survival less than 27 months * Presence of any severe medical or psychological condition, that in the opinion of the Investigator, would compromise the subject's safety or successful participation in the study * Presence of any other condition (e.g. geographic, social, or other), actual or anticipated, that the Investigator feels would restrict or limit the subject's participation for the duration of the study * Receipt of any investigational treatment (drug or device) within 30 days prior to Screening * Previous participation in a rimonabant study * Total occlusion of any carotid artery segment * Previous history of carotid intervention * Patient considered at high risk of carotid intervention during the next 27 months