title: Body shape, body size and cigarette smoking relationships.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The aim of the present study was to explore whether smoking is positively related with the abdominal obesity.
  
  
  METHODS
  Cross-sectional data was analyzed from a random sample of 1,342 subjects, stratified by their age and gender. Cigarette smoking habits were assessed and anthropometric measures obtained during the health examination.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Statistically significant differences in waist circumference and waist-hip ratio were found among males in some of the age groups, body mass index however, was lower in older smokers. There were no differences between female smokers and non-smokers in all parameters.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The results of the study do not support the hypothesis that smoking affects an abnormal fat distribution profile predominantly in the form of central adiposity as reported earlier.
authors.affiliation: Department of Public Health, Faculty of Medicine, University of Ljubljana, Zaloska 4, Ljubljana, Slovenia. tomaz.caks@zzv-lj.si
authors.forename: Tomaz
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Caks
authors.forename: Mitja
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Kos
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D050218:Body Fat Distribution; D015992:Body Mass Index; D049628:Body Size; D001835:Body Weight; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D006306:Health Surveys; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D017524:Slovenia; D012907:Smoking / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000453:epidemiology*; D013008:Somatotypes; D049629:Waist-Hip Ratio