High Density Lipoprotein Turnover

Inclusion Criteria: * Abdominally obese patients with additional cardiometabolic risk factors * Females must be post-menopausal * BMI \> 27 kg/m² and \< 40 kg/m² * Men or women with abdominal obesity according to NCEP/ATPIII criteria: Waist Circumference \> 88 cm in women; \> 102 cm in men * With at least one lipid abnormality defined as: * Fasting Triglycerides level \> 1.7 mmol/L (150 mg/dL) and \< 4.5 mmol/L (400 mg/dL) * HDL \< 1.03 mmol/L (40 mg/dL) in men and \< 1.29 mmol/L (50 mg/dL) in women Exclusion Criteria: * HDL ≤ 0.60 mmol/L (23 mg/dl) * Plasma LDL-Cholesterol \> 155 mg/dl (4.00 mmol/L) or total cholesterol 250 mg/dl (\> 6.5mmol/L) or genetic hyperlipidaemia * Fasting triglycerides \> 400 mg/dL (4.5 mmol/L) * Known heterozygous or homozygous familial hypercholesterolaemia or know type III hyperlipoproteinaemia (familial dysbetalipoproteinaemia) * ApoE2/E2 homozygosity, Apo E4/E4 homozygosity * Type 2 diabetes treated with oral agents and/or insulin * Diet treated type 2 diabetic patients with HbA1c ≥ 7% * History of cardio vascular disease * Systolic blood pressure ≥ 160 mmHg or diastolic blood pressure ≥ 95 mmHg. * Very low-calorie diet (1200 calories a day or less) or history of surgical procedures for weight loss (e.g., stomach stapling, bypass) * Body weight fluctuation \> 5 Kg during the previous 3 months * History of bulimia or anorexia nervosa by DSM-IV criteria * Presence of any clinically significant endocrine disease according to the investigator, Cushing syndrome, obesity secondary to hypothalamic/pituitary disorder. * Abnormal TSH and free T4 at baseline (Patients treated with thyroid replacement therapy must be on fixed and stable dose for at least 3 months prior to screening and must be in euthyroïd status.) * Severe hepatic impairment known by the investigator or AST or ALT \> 3 times the ULN at screening. * Known severe renal dysfunction (creatinine clearance \< 30 ml/min) or urine analysis (performed at screening by dipstick) showing 2+ or more protein * Presence of any condition (medical, including clinically significant abnormal laboratory test, psychological, social or geographical) actual or anticipated that the investigator feels would compromise the patient safety or limit his/her successful participation to the study * Patient treated for epilepsy * Ongoing major depressive illness * Uncontrolled psychiatric illness * History of alcohol and/or drug abuse * Smoker or smoking cessation within the past 3 months * Marijuana or hashish users * Previous participation in a Rimonabant study or to any other clinical trial within 4 weeks to study start * Hypersensitivity/intolerance to the active substance or to any of the excipients such as lactose * Blood donation within the past 3 months prior to the study or planned during the study or within the 3 months from the study completing * Recent history of active peptic ulcer * Willebrand disease or other hemorrhagic diatheses * Administration of any of the following within 3 months prior to screening visit and susceptible to be prescribed during the study treatment period: * Lipid-lowering drugs intake * Anti obesity drugs * Other drugs for weight reduction (phentermine, amphetamines) * Herbal preparations for weight reduction * Other drugs known to affect lipid metabolism: retinoids, antiretroviral, estrogens and hormone replacement therapy, cyclosporine, glitazones, benfluorex, fish oils, plant sterols. * Thiazids (including fixed combination) at daily dose higher than 12.5 mg * Unselective beta-blockers * Prolonged use (more than one week) of systemic corticosteroids, neuroleptics * Anticoagulants * Ongoing antidepressive treatment The above information is not intended to contain all considerations relevant to a patient's potential participation in a clinical trial.