Association between Smoking Status and Obesity in a Nationwide Survey of Japanese Adults

Abstract

ObjectiveA positive association between the number of cigarettes smoked per day and obesity has been reported, whereas how other smoking-related indices, such as pack-years and duration of smoking, are related with obesity has been less investigated. We analyzed the age-adjusted cross-sectional association between smoking and obesity in a general Japanese population.MethodsWe used data from a nationwide epidemiological study of Japanese adults (N = 23,106). We compared the prevalence of obesity (defined as body mass index ≥ 25kg/m2) among groups classified by smoking behavior, pack-years, number of cigarettes per day, duration of smoking, and duration and time of smoking cessation.ResultsIn men, current smokers had a lower odds ratio (OR) for obesity of 0.80 (95% confidence interval (CI): 0.72–0.88) compared to non-smokers, whereas past smokers had a higher OR of 1.23 (95% CI: 1.09–1.37) compared to current smokers. In women, there were no differences in obesity between the three groups classified by smoking behavior. However, in both sexes, the prevalence of obesity tended to increase with pack-years and the number of cigarettes per day, but not with duration of smoking in current and past smokers. Further, in male smokers, the risks for obesity were markedly higher in short-term heavy smokers compared with long-term light smokers, even with the same number of pack-years. Regarding the impact of smoking cessation, female past smokers who quit smoking at an age > 55-years had an elevated OR of 1.60 (95% CI:1.05–2.38) for obesity.ConclusionsIn a general Japanese population, obesity is progressively associated with pack-years and number of cigarettes per day, but not with the duration of smoking. When investigating the association between obesity and cigarette smoking, the daily smoking burden and the duration of smoking require to be independently considered.

Association between body mass index and ready-to-eat food consumption among sedentary staff in Nay Pyi Taw union territory, Myanmar

“…A study from Japan showed that smoking was associated with obesity, but the association depended on the number of cigarettes smoked, not on the duration of smoking. Short-term heavy smokers were more likely to be obese than long- [49]. This study finding was contrary to another study which found that smoking was negatively associated with overweight and obesity [50].…”

Increased oral inflammation, leukocytes, and leptin, and lower adiponectin in overweight or obesity

“…() found that exercise significantly decreased CRP levels, but there was no influence of exercise on levels of adiponectin or leptin, which is similar to the current study. Conflicting results have been reported when considering the relationship between compromised BMI and smoking status (Dare, Mackay, & Pell, ; Mackay, Gray, & Pell, ; Watanabe et al., ). Similar to our study, current smokers were significantly found in the overweight or obese group, but when considered with other factors that are associated with BMI and oral diseases or inflammatory mediators, the significant difference disappeared.…”

Mentholated cigarettes or weight problems, which came first

“…This finding is in line with many researchers describing a direct relationship between smoking and weight gain. 22,23 In this regard, our cohort of female smokers living with HIV had a sizable proportion of obese and overweight participants. The hypothesis that smoking mentholated cigarettes adversely affects weight was confirmed, as smokers of mentholated cigarettes were significantly heavier than non-menthol smokers with HIV.…”

“…On the other hand, Hispanics were either overweight or obese. Near a third of the African Americans had an ideal BMI (18)(19)(20)(21)(22)(23)(24)(25).…”