Cigarette smoking and increased central adiposity.
OBJECTIVE
To determine whether cigarette smoking is associated with central obesity in men and women.


METHODS
A cross-sectional survey.


METHODS
A geographically defined population of older white adults.


METHODS
Men (836) and women (1112) ages 50 to 79.


METHODS
None.


RESULTS
Waist-hip circumference ratio and body mass index (weight in kg/height in m2) were measured in participants wearing light clothing without shoes. Past and current cigarette smoking habits were ascertained by a standard self-administered questionnaire. Cigarette smokers had higher waist-hip ratios than non-smokers. We observed a dose-response relation of increasing waist-hip ratio with increasing number of cigarettes smoked. Although smokers were leaner than nonsmokers, the increased waist-hip ratio in smokers was independent of body mass index and was consistent within body-mass index tertiles. The associations, seen in both sexes, were stronger in women.


CONCLUSIONS
Cigarette smokers have more central obesity than nonsmokers. These results suggest that body fat distribution can be modified by behavioral factors such as smoking.
Barrett-Connor
E
E
University of California School of Medicine, La Jolla.
Khaw
K T
KT
D000005:Abdomen; D000273:Adipose Tissue / Q000033:anatomy & histology*; D000368:Aged; D000375:Aging / Q000473:pathology; D001824:Body Constitution; D015992:Body Mass Index; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012737:Sex Factors; D012907:Smoking / Q000473:pathology*