The trends in overweight and obesity between 1985 and 1997 were assessed in southwestern France using data from three independent, cross-sectional representative samples of the population aged 35-64 y: 678 men and 645 women in 1985-1987, 586 men in 1989-1991, and 614 men and 569 women in 1995-1997. Men had higher rates of overweight, whereas prevalence rates for obesity were similar between genders. In men, prevalence rates for overweight and obesity were respectively 50 and 10% in 1985-1987, 49 and 13% in 1989-1991, and 50 and 13% in 1995-1997; in women, prevalence rates were respectively 26 and 11% in 1985-1987 and 25 and 11% in 1995-1997; only the prevalence of obesity increased significantly in men. In both genders, prevalence rates of overweight and obesity increased with age group. We conclude that overweight and obesity have remained relatively stable in southwestern France, but the reasons for such a stability remain to be assessed.