title: Clustering of risk factors with smoking habits among adults, Sousse, Tunisia.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  In Tunisia, few studies have assessed the association between tobacco use and other lifestyle risk factors for chronic disease (eg, unhealthy diet, physical inactivity). We studied 1,880 adults to determine the association between tobacco use and other lifestyle risk factors in Tunisia.
  
  
  METHODS
  This study was part of an assessment of the prevalence of chronic disease risk factors in a community-based trial conducted in 2009 to implement a chronic disease prevention program. The study population was randomly selected from 3 districts of the region of Sousse. The questionnaires were administered by personal interview and included the assessment of tobacco use and other chronic disease risk factors such as unhealthful diet habits and physical inactivity.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Of the 1,880 study participants, 64% were women. The mean age of the participants was 37.9 (standard deviation, 13.5 y). The prevalence of tobacco use in our population was 50.4% for men and 3.1% for women. Among men, the proportion of alcohol consumption was significantly higher among smokers (25.3% vs 5.7% [P <.001]). Smokers consumed fewer fruits and vegetables and more high-fat, high-salt, and high-sugar foods than did nonsmokers. There was no significant difference between male smokers and nonsmokers regarding physical activity (P = .36).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Physical activity and dietary characteristics may be important areas for physicians to assess during smoking-cessation interventions.
authors.affiliation: Department of Epidemiology, University Hospital Farhat Hached, Sousse, 4000 Tunisia. E-mail: jihenmaatoug3107@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Jihene
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Maatoug
authors.affiliation: Department of Epidemiology, University Hospital Farhat Hached, Sousse, Tunisia.
authors.forename: Imed
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Harrabi
authors.affiliation: Department of Epidemiology, University Hospital Farhat Hached, Sousse, Tunisia.
authors.forename: Sonia
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Hmad
authors.affiliation: Department of Epidemiology, University Hospital Farhat Hached, Sousse, Tunisia.
authors.forename: Mylene
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Belkacem
authors.affiliation: Duluth Medical Research Institute, University of Minnesota, USA.
authors.forename: Mustafa
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Al'absi
authors.affiliation: Department of Epidemiology and Community Health, University of Minnesota, USA.
authors.forename: Harry
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Lando
authors.affiliation: Department of Epidemiology, University Hospital Farhat Hached, Sousse, Tunisia.
authors.forename: Hassen
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Ghannem
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000428:Alcohol Drinking / Q000453:epidemiology; D002908:Chronic Disease / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000517:prevention & control; D016000:Cluster Analysis; D004032:Diet; D015444:Exercise; D005260:Female; D015438:Health Behavior; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012307:Risk Factors; D012737:Sex Factors; D012907:Smoking / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000523:psychology*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014416:Tunisia / Q000453:epidemiology; D055815:Young Adult