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Associations between smoking and body weight in the US population: Analysis of NHANES II

Author

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  • Albanes, D.
  • Jones, Y.
  • Micozzi, M.S.
  • Mattson, M.E.

Abstract

Recent recommendations for increases in desirable body weights are based upon studies which did not consider the potential confounding effect of cigarette consumption on body weight. We investigated the relation between tobacco use and several anthropometric measurements in 12,103 men and women 19-74 years of age in the United States examined between 1976 and 1980 during the Second National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES II). Cigarette smokers weighed less (mean ± standard error = 69.8 ± 0.2 kg) and were leaner (body mass index (weight (kg)/height (m)2) = 24.6 ± 0.1) than nonsmokers (72.5 ± 0.2 kg and 25.7 ± 0.1, respectively), controlling for age and sex. Body leanness increased with the duration (but not intensity) of smoking. Ex-smokers were not heavier or fatter than nonsmokers, and these groups experienced similar weight gain after age 25 (approximately 6 kg in men, 9 kg in women), while current smokers gained substantially less weight (3.5 kg in men, 5.4 kg in women). Compared to nonsmokers, former and current smokers were also slightly taller. Most of these associations were evident in both sexes and all ages evaluated, and were not explained by differences in caloric intake, physical activity, illness, or socioeconomic status. Our findings suggest that the increased mortality observed among lean individuals in previous studies may have been due to smoking rather than leanness per se, and as a result, currently accepted desirable body weights may be overestimated.

Suggested Citation

  • Albanes, D. & Jones, Y. & Micozzi, M.S. & Mattson, M.E., 1987. "Associations between smoking and body weight in the US population: Analysis of NHANES II," American Journal of Public Health, American Public Health Association, vol. 77(4), pages 439-444.
    • Handle: RePEc:aph:ajpbhl:1987:77:4:439-444_0
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    Cited by:

    1. Lhamo Y. Sherpa & Deji & Hein Stigum & Virasakdi Chongsuvivatwong & Dag S. Thelle & Espen Bjertness, 2010. "Obesity in Tibetans Aged 30–70 Living at Different Altitudes under the North and South Faces of Mt. Everest," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 7(4), pages 1-11, April.
    2. Unknown, 2009. "Canadian Expert Panel on Tobacco Smoke and Breast Cancer Risk," University of California at San Francisco, Center for Tobacco Control Research and Education qt5x79f22t, Center for Tobacco Control Research and Education, UC San Francisco.
    3. Henri-Jean Aubin & Ivan Berlin & Elisheva Smadja & Robert West, 2009. "Factors Associated with Higher Body Mass Index, Weight Concern, and Weight Gain in a Multinational Cohort Study of Smokers Intending to Quit," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 6(3), pages 1-15, March.
    4. Teh‐Wei Hu & Qui‐Fang Ren & Theodore E. Keeler & Joan Bartlett, 1995. "The demand for cigarettes in california and behavioural risk factors," Health Economics, John Wiley & Sons, Ltd., vol. 4(1), pages 7-14, January.
    5. Aliaksandr Amialchuk & Kateryna Bornukova & Mir M. Ali, 2018. "Will a Decline in Smoking Increase Body Weights? Evidence from Belarus," Eastern Economic Journal, Palgrave Macmillan;Eastern Economic Association, vol. 44(2), pages 190-210, April.
    6. Kan Sun & Jianmin Liu & Guang Ning, 2012. "Active Smoking and Risk of Metabolic Syndrome: A Meta-Analysis of Prospective Studies," PLOS ONE, Public Library of Science, vol. 7(10), pages 1-9, October.
    7. Elisa Birch, 2015. "The Role of Socioeconomic, Demographic and Behavioural Factors in Explaining the High Rates of Obesity Among Indigenous Australians," Australian Economic Papers, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 54(4), pages 209-228, December.
    8. Nie, Peng & Alfonso Leon, Alina & Díaz Sánchez, Maria Elena & Sousa-Poza, Alfonso, 2018. "The rise in obesity in Cuba from 2001 to 2010: An analysis of National Survey on Risk Factors and Chronic Diseases data," Economics & Human Biology, Elsevier, vol. 28(C), pages 1-13.

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