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- Title
Does smoking in adolescence affect body mass index, waist or height? Findings from a longitudinal study.
- Authors
Fidler, Jennifer A.; West, Robert; Van Jaarsveld, Cornelia H. M.; Jarvis, Martin J.; Wardle, Jane
- Abstract
Aim To assess the effect of smoking uptake on body mass index (BMI), waist circumference and height during adolescence. Design Five-year longitudinal study. Setting Thirty-six schools in South London, England, selected by a stratified random sampling procedure designed to ensure ethnic and socio-economic diversity. Participants A total of 5863 students took part in the HABITS (Health and Behaviour in Teenagers) Study between 1999 and 2003. Measurements Self-reported smoking behaviour, saliva cotinine concentrations and measured weight, waist circumference and height were obtained, along with information on gender, ethnicity, socio-economic deprivation, pubertal status, self-reported exercise and dieting. Students were examined annually from school year 7 (ages 11–12) to year 11 (ages 15–16), with response rates ranging from 74 to 84%. A total of 2665 never smokers at year 7 with complete data for years 7 and 11 were included in the analyses. Findings Adjusting for year 7 BMI and other potential confounders, regular smokers (more than six cigarettes a week) at year 11 had significantly lower BMI ( P = 0.002) than other students. Smokers defined by a cotinine above 15 ng/ml also had lower BMI ( P < 0.0001). Waist circumferences were lower in regular smokers ( P = 0.014) and cotinine-defined smokers ( P < 0.011). No consistent association was found between smoking and height. The adjusted difference in weight between regular smokers and other students amounted to 1.8 kg (95% CI, 0.52–3.17) for an average-height student. Conclusion Taking up regular smoking during adolescence may result in a lower BMI, but the effect is small and of uncertain significance.
- Subjects
LONDON (England); ENGLAND; SMOKING; ADOLESCENT health; BODY mass index; BODY weight; SALIVARY glands; CIGARETTES; GROUP identity
- Publication
Addiction, 2007, Vol 102, Issue 9, p1493
- ISSN
0965-2140
- Publication type
Article
- DOI
10.1111/j.1360-0443.2007.01910.x