EC Clinical and Medical Case Reports

Background: We tried to understand whether or not there is a long term effect of smoking on prevention of overweight or obesity.

Method: Patients between the ages of 35 and 70 years were studied to be able to see the long term effects of smoking on prevention of overweight and obesity, and to avoid debility induced weight loss in elders. The study included consecutive cases with the normal weight, and age and sex-matched cases with overweight and obesity. Current daily smokers with a period of one pack-year and cases with a history of five pack years were accepted as smokers.

Results: There were 270 cases in each of the normal weight, overweight, and obesity groups. Mean ages of them were 47.1, 46.3, and 48.9 years, respectively (p > 0.05 between them). The female ratio was 53.7% in the three groups. Prevalences of smoking were similar in the three groups (35.9%, 32.9%, and 33.7%, respectively, p > 0.05 between all). Whereas prevalences of HT were 8.1%, 13.7%, and 21.8%, and prevalences of DM were 9.6%, 20.0%, and 28.5% in them, respectively (p < 0.001 between all). Similarly, prevalences of dyslipidemia were 19.2%, 32.5%, and 40.3% in them, respectively (p < 0.01 between all).

Conclusion: Prevalences of smoking were similar in the normal weight, overweight, and obesity groups, although the absence of any significant difference according to the mean age and gender distribution between the groups. On the other hand, prevalences of HT, DM, and dyslipidemia increased gradually and significantly from the normal weight towards the overweight and obesity groups.

Keywords: Smoking; Normal Weight; Overweight; Obesity; Hypertension; Diabetes Mellitus; Dyslipidemia

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