Smoking status, cigarettes per day, and their relationship to overweight and obesity among former and current smokers in a national adult general population sample

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Weight gain after smoking cessation is perceived to be a barrier against quitting smoking. The goal was to analyze overweight and obesity depending on smoking status and number of cigarettes per day (cpd) among former and current smokers. METHODS: The sample included 7124 residents of Germany aged 18-79 y from a national health examination survey (participation rate: 61.4%). Body weight and height were objectively measured; smoking status and cpd were assessed by a questionnaire administered in a health examination center. RESULTS: The number of cpd was positively related to being overweight and more so to obesity among former smoking men, but not women. The results were adjusted for age, school education, exercise and alcohol consumption. Men who formerly had smoked more than 30 cpd had an adjusted odds ratio (OR) of 5.0 for obesity compared to men who had never smoked. CONCLUSION: With an increasing number of cpd more psychological and physiological processes of compensation of nicotine supply after smoking cessation may be expected. Male smokers should be provided with information on how to prevent weight gain after smoking cessation. To foster smoking cessation, female smokers should be informed that women who stop smoking manage to have no increase in the rates of overweight or obesity when considered at the general population level.

Nicotine-induced Activation of AMP-activated Protein Kinase Inhibits Fatty Acid Synthase in 3T3L1 Adipocytes

“…Cigarette smoking is associated with weight loss, and cessation of smoking often leads to weight gain (16). Nicotine, which is readily absorbed from cigarette smoke, is elevated in the plasma of habitual smokers throughout the course of a day (17,18).…”

Association between serum TSH concentration within the normal range and adiposity

“…Smokers have lower serum TSH concentration (42) and lower BMI than non-smokers (43). Of the 29 studies, four considered smoking a potential confounder, three of which performed analysis stratified according to smoking status.…”

Higher education and more physical activity limit the development of obesity in a Swedish rural population. The Skaraborg Project

“…[9][10][11][12] Lifestyles are also of importance, as a sedentary leisure-time physical activity (LTPA) is independently associated with obesity, and smokers have a lower body mass index (BMI) compared to non-smokers and former smokers. [13][14][15][16] Over the last two decades, there has been a continuous increase in the prevalence of obesity in the United States, in Great Britain and in other European countries. 7,[17][18][19][20] In the United States, the prevalence of obesity varies by region with the highest prevalence of obesity in the rural areas.…”