Abstract:

Objective To assess the effect of smoking on body mass index (BMI) among residents in Guangdong Province. Methods Using the method of multistage clustering random sampling, permanent residents aged 18 years and above were selected from Yuexiu District of Guangzhou City, Yuncheng District of Yunfu City, Town District of Shanwei City, Wuhua County of Meizhou City, Sihui County of Zhao qing City, Nanxiong County of Shaoguan City in 2010.Questionnaire survey and physical examination were conducted using the method of combination of focused and household investigations. Contents of the questionnaire included basic personal information, smoking, drinking, diet, physical activity, and family economic status. Rate and ratio were used for statistic description. T-test, One way ANOVA, and multiple linear regression were used to analyze the relationship between smoking and BMI. Results A total of 3 591 people were surveyed, including 1 621 men (45.14%) and 1 970 women (54.86%）. The rates of never smoking, current smoking, and past smoking were 72.29%（2 596/3 591）, 22.86%（821/3 591）, and 4.85%（174/3 591）, respectively. The average BMI of all participants was 22.96±3.32. The mean BMI of never smoking, current smoking, and past smoking were 23.29±3.64, 22.76±3.35, and 23.01±3.28, respectively. After controlling gender, age, occupation, educational level, family income per capita, alcohol, and the amount of exercise, differences among BMI of smoking 1 to 9 cigarettes/day, smoking 10 to 19 cigarettes/day and not smoking were statistically significant (P<0.05), and their average BMI (95% CI) were 22.27 (21.75-22.80), 22.12 (21.66-22.59), and 23.03 (22.90-23.16), respectively. Current smoking and BMI were negatively correlated after adjusting for gender, age, occupation, and other variables, and its beta value was -0.552(P<0.05). Conclusion The smoking rate of residents in Guangdong Province remained high. Smoking was negatively correlated with BMI, but BMI was reduced very less.