Smoking, Obesity or Both: Poses Increased Risk of Illness and Early Death, Study Says

Filed in archive Cases , Studies on May 19, 2006

Smoking and obesity are two of the main culprits associated to serious risk of long-term illness and early death. This being said, then over 80 million American adults alone has placed themselves on this risk either through smoking or obesity or both.

These are the findings of a study published at the British Medical Journal website.

In the United States, smoking and obesity are the two leading causes of death and illness. However, the overlap of these two conditions has never been measured.

Using data from the 2002 national health interview survey, researchers estimated the proportion of adults in the US who smoke and are obese. The results were stratified for various factors, such as income and education levels.

They found that 23.5% of adults were obese and 22.7% smoked (a total of 81 million). About 4.7% (9 million) smoked and were obese. This proportion was particularly high in African Americans (7%) and in people with lower income and education levels.

Although this overlap is a bit low, it cannot be denied that both conditions carry increased risk to one's health.

Looking at this study, treatment for obese patients who smoke should be investigated. There should be clinical trials that should monitor the effects of programs aimed at simultaneously stopping smoking and weight control. Such results may be used to develop policies for prevention and treatment.

Obese? Smoking? Then watch it. Consult and obey your doctors.

Source: Science Daily