Cigarette Smoking and Increased Central Adiposity

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Abstract
Study Objective: To determine whether cigarette smoking is associated with central obesity in men and women. Design: A cross-sectional survey. Setting: A geographically defined population of older white adults. Participants: Men (836) and women (1112) ages 50 to 79. Interventions: None. Measurements and Main 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 nonsmokers. 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.