The relationship between cigarette smoking and obesity

Authors : Aziz Gümüş, Servet Kayhan, Halit Cinarka, Serap Baydur, Derya Giakoup, Ünal Şahin

Pages : 311-315

Doi:10.5835/jecm.omu.30.04.006

View : 26 | Download : 5

Publication Date : 2014-02-05

Article Type : Research

Abstract :The cigarette smoking and the obesity are the main reasons of mortality and the morbidity. There are limited studies detecting the relationship between smoking and obesity. However the reported results are contradictory. The aim of the study is to investigate the effects of smoking on body mass index and obesity. A total of 983 patients consisting of 464 (47%) male and 519 (53%) female who admitted to department of chest disease outpatient clinic were enrolled in this study. The age, gender, body mass index (BMI), diastolic and systolic blood pressure levels and smoking states of the patients were recorded. The mean age of patients was 50.7±14.8 years (range 20-80). We detected the obesity in 359 (37%) patients. Compared to smoker females, obesity rate was found significantly higher in non-smoker females (p<0.001). Similarly, there was also significant difference between the smoker and non-smoker males, which was lower than the female group (p=0.041). We found significantly lower BMI scores in female smokers, than non-smokers and ex smokers group (p=0.026 and p<0.001 respectively). Similar results were obtained in males (p=0.019, p<0.001 respectively). There was a positive correlation between BMI and age, systolic and diastolic blood pressure. A negative correlation was found between BMI and smoking amount (pack-year) (p<0.001). Systolic and diastolic blood pressures were found to be lower in smokers than non-smokers in both genders (p<0.001). Cigarette smoking causes a decrease in body mass index, obesity rates and blood pressure levels. The substances found in cigarettes and the mechanism of action leading to these effects are unclear. There is a need for further studies on this topic.
Keywords : Blood pressure, Body mass index, Obesity, Smoking