title: Trends in the association between smoking history and general/central obesity in Catalonia, Spain (1992-2003).
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To examine trends in the relationship between smoking history and both general and central fatness in adults from a Mediterranean setting. Materials and methods: The ENCAT 1992-1993 and 2002-2003 surveys were used; samples consisted of 482 men, 589 women from 1992-1993, and 515 men, 613 women from 2002-2003, aged 25-60 years. Measured anthropometry and self-reported data on smoking habits, diet, lifestyle and SES were collected. General fatness was defined as WHO's BMI overweight and obesity, and central fatness was defined as WHO's Increased-Risk-for-metabolic-complications Waist Circumference (IR WC) and Substantially-Increased-Risk WC (SIR WC). Simple logistic regression was used to estimate multivariate-adjusted associations between general/central fatness and smoking history.
  
  
  RESULTS
  By 2002-2003, most associations observed in 1992-1993 had been strongly attenuated: only male current-heavy-smoking remained associated with IR/SIR WC (three-fold) and female current-moderate-smokers were 0.57 times less likely to have an IR/SIR WC (p < 0.10).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Although causality cannot be established, results suggest a positive association between heavy smoking and central fatness among men, but no association between former smoking and general/central fatness; findings strengthen arguments for promoting smoking cessation to reduce smoking -and obesity- associated morbidity and mortality.
authors.affiliation: Fundación para la Investigación Nutricional (FIN). Barcelona Science Park. Universidad de Barcelona. Barcelona. lluis.serra@ulpgc.es.
authors.forename: Alicia
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: García Álvarez
authors.forename: Lluís
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Serra-Majem
authors.forename: Conxa
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Castell
authors.forename: Lourdes
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Ribas-Barba
authors.forename: Michelle A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Méndez
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D015992:Body Mass Index; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009765:Obesity / Q000150:complications / Q000453:epidemiology*; D056128:Obesity, Abdominal / Q000150:complications / Q000453:epidemiology*; D015995:Prevalence; D012907:Smoking / Q000453:epidemiology*; D016540:Smoking Cessation; D013030:Spain / Q000453:epidemiology; D055105:Waist Circumference
keywords: Obesity. Tobacco  smoking. Body  mass index. Waist  circumference. Nutrition  surveys.