Study: Health Risks of Smoking Offset Benefits Linked to Lower Body Fat

Even though smokers tend to weigh less than non-smokers, the health risks associated with smoking negate the benefits usually linked with lower body fat, according to research presented at the American Heart Association's Asia Pacific Scientific Forum.

These findings prove true across race, gender, national origin and ethnicity. Obese patients, therefore, should never turn to smoking in their attempt to lose weight.

"There is a public perception that smoking has a health benefit in that it keeps people thinner," said Dr. Daniel T. Lackland, professor of epidemiology at the Medical University of South Carolina. "That perception is dead wrong."

"We have known for some time that smokers of both genders tend to be leaner, and leanness is cardio-protective," said Lackland. "We looked at 59 analytic groups within the 23 studies from around the world to examine whether weight control through smoking had any health benefits whatsoever as a means to reduce the risk of heart attack, or death from other causes."

Researchers examined data from more than 250,000 men and women of diverse backgrounds from Asia, Europe and the United States. Although the weights of the people varied greatly by region, on the average, nonsmoking men were about 5 pounds heavier than male smokers and nonsmoking women were about 7.5 pounds heavier than female smokers.

Researchers found that men who smoked cigarettes had a 50 percent greater relative risk of dying from a heart attack compared to men who did not smoke. Women smokers had an 80 percent greater relative risk of dying from a heart attack than non-smokers and they also had a higher risk of dying from other causes.

Investigators believe that a chemical in tobacco helps to suppress the appetite, causing smokers to eat smaller portions, thus taking in fewer calories.

Other sources: American Heart Association