Smoking in the age of obesity: an investigation of secular trends in body fat and cigarette smoking
2011 (English)Independent thesis Advanced level (degree of Master (Two Years))
Student thesis
Abstract [en]
Objectives: In recent decades, obesity reached epidemic proportions in western countries, while cigarette smoking decreased. Traditionally, smoking is associated with lower relative weight (body mass index, BMI) but high abdominal obesity (waist-hip ratio, WHR). However, several recent studies suggest that BMI is higher among today’s smokers compared with non-smokers. Therefore, the present study examined whether the relationship between smoking and each of the body measures, BMI and WHR, has changed over time.
Material and Methods: Data were collected from 5907 male and female residents of Gothenburg, Sweden, aged 25-65 years, and drawn randomly in four sequential cross-sections (1985, 1990, 1995, 2002) from the city’s population register. The study used general linear models to test trends over time, and adjusted all differences for age.
Results: The data reported here showed higher WHR in both male and female smokers compared with non-smokers. BMI was lower in female smokers compared with female non-smokers, but did not differ significantly between male smokers and male non-smokers. Among female participants, differences in WHR between smokers and non-smokers increased significantly throughout the study. Although male participants showed a similar tendency, the differences were not significant. Adjustment for educational level did not affect the results.
Conclusions: WHR was higher among smokers compared with non-smokers; this difference increased over time. Thus, concern for obesity does not provide a valid reason to continue smoking; on the contrary, it may be a reason to quit.
Place, publisher, year, edition, pages
2011. , p. 34
Series
Master of Public Health, MPH, ISSN 1104-5701 ; MPH 2011:1
Keywords [en]
Body Mass Index, Waist-Hip Ratio, Smoking
National Category
Medical and Health Sciences
Identifiers
URN: urn:nbn:se:norden:org:diva-3140OAI: oai:DiVA.org:norden-3140DiVA, id: diva2:721785
Presentation
2011-02-18, Nordic School of Public Health NHV, Box 12133, 402 42 Göteborg, Sweden, 00:00 (English)
Supervisors
Note
ISBN 978-91-86739-06-5
2014-06-052014-06-052025-06-12Bibliographically approved