Associations of cigarette smoking with general and abdominal obesity risks among men in Taiwan

Abstract

Obesity and smoking are two major public health challenges that both significantly contribute to morbidity and mortality worldwide. This study investigated the associations between smoking behaviors and obesity among men in Taiwan, with a focus on body mass index (BMI) and waist circumference (WC) as indicators of general and abdominal obesity. The sample consisted of 27,908 men categorized into five groups based on their specific smoking statuses: never smoker (NS), former smoker (FS), light-intensity smoker (LIS), moderate-intensity smoker (MIS), and heavy-intensity smoker (HIS). Our findings revealed a significant association between smoking behaviors and increased obesity risk, particularly among heavy-intensity smokers. Socioeconomic factors such as education and income levels were also found to influence these behaviors. These results underscore the importance of integrated public health strategies that address both smoking cessation and obesity prevention.