Smoking and Physical Activity in Healthy Adults: A Cross-Sectional Study in Tehran.
BACKGROUND
Smoking and physical inactivity are two major risk factors for non-communicable diseases (NCDs). Not only these factors have a causal effect on NCDs, but they can also affect each other. This study aimed to assess the relationship between these factors as well as their effect on NCDs.


METHODS
A total of 2,602 healthy adults aged 30-60 years participated in this survey in 2010. Data on demographic characteristics, medical history, smoking status, physical activity and anthropometric measures including weight and height were collected and analyzed. The effect of smoking on physical activity was evaluated by logistic regression adjusting for potential confounders.


RESULTS
Among demographic characteristics, only age (P<0.001) and educational level (P<0.001) had a significant association with smoking status. Compared with nonsmokers, smokers had an odds ratio of 4.88 (95% CI, 3.34-7.13) for having unsatisfactory physical activity.


CONCLUSIONS
The present study showed that cigarette smoking negatively affects the quality of physical activity.
Tobacco Prevention and Control Research Center, National Research Institute of Tuberculosis and Lung Diseases (NRITLD), Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
Gholamreza
G
Heydari
Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, School of Public Health, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
Mostafa
M
Hosseini
Department of Physiology, School of Medicine, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
Mahmoud
M
Yousefifard
Department of Occupational Health Engineering, Faculty of Public Health, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
Hadi
H
Asady
School of Medicine, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
Masoud
M
Baikpour
Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, School of Nursing, Midwifery and Physiotherapy, University of Nottingham, England.
Atena
A
Barat
Global health; Harm reduction; Health services; Physical activity; Smoking