An International Study of Rimonabant in Dyslipidemia With AtheroGenic Risk In Abdominally Obese Patients

Inclusion Criteria: * Male or female patients aged \>= 18 years * Waist circumference \> 102 cm in men and \> 88 cm in women * Dyslipidemia consisting of: * Triglyceridemia \>= 1.5g/L (i.e. 1.69mmol/L) and ≤ 7.0g/L (i.e. 7.90mmol/L) AND/OR * HDL cholesterol \< 50mg/dL (1.29mmol/L) in women, \< 40mg/dL (1.04mmol/L) in men * If patient with type 2 diabetes are included they must be on a stable dose of oral antidiabetic medication (excluding glitazones) and should not be on insulin therapy * Written informed consent Exclusion Criteria: * Weight change \> 5 kg within 3 months prior to screening visit * Pregnancy or lactation, or women planning to become pregnant * Absence of medically approved contraceptive methods for females of childbearing potential * Presence of any other condition (e.g. geographic, social…) actual or anticipated, that the Investigator feels that would restrict or limit the subject's participation for the duration of the study. * Presence of any clinically significant endocrine disease (other than type 2 diabetes) according to the Investigator * History of severe depression that could be defined as depression which necessitated the patient to be hospitalized, or patients with 2 or more recurrent episodes of depression or a history of suicide attempt. * Presence or history of DSM-IV bulimia or anorexia nervosa- Positive test for hepatitis B surface antigen and/or hepatitis C antibody; Abnormal TSH level (TSH \> ULN or \< LLN ); Hemoglobin \< 11g/dL and/or neutrophils \> 1,500/mm3 and/or platelets \< 100,000/mm3; Positive urine pregnancy test in females of childbearing potential. * Within 3 months prior to screening visit and between the screening and the inclusion visit: * Administration of anti obesity drugs (e.g., sibutramine, orlistat) * Administration of other drugs for weight reduction including herbal preparations (phentermine, amphetamines) * Thyroid preparations or thyroxine treatment (except in patients on replacement therapy on a stable dose) * If patients with type 2 diabetes are included they must be on a stable dose of oral antidiabetic medication for at least 3 months and should not be expected to receive insulin therapy within 12 months: Insulin, Glitazones * Any change in lipid lowering treatment (i.e. introduction of a new drug, change, cessation)- Administration of systemic long-acting corticosteroids- Prolonged use (more than 1 week) of systemic corticosteroids (or if daily dosage \> 1000 µg equivalent beclomethasone * Prolonged administration (more than one week) of antidepressants (including bupropion) * Prolonged administration (more than one week) of neuroleptics.