Obese People More Likely To Be Smokers- Study

Scientists from the World Health Organisation have disclosed that people who are genetically prone to being overweight have a higher risk of taking up smoking.

The study carried out by Paul Brennan, a genetic epidemiology expert with the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC), showed that increased body mass index (BMI), body fat percentage and waist circumference, were associated with high risk of smoking, and with great smoking intensity, measured by the number of cigarettes smoked per day.

According to Brennan, around 70 genes have been identified to explain this behaviour.

“Based on genetic markers of obesity, the study allows us to better understand the complex relationship between obesity and important smoking habits,” he said.

He added that the study also suggested that there was possibly a “common biological basis for addictive behaviours, such as nicotine addiction and higher energy intake”.

However, Brennan stated that a better understanding of the discovery would be a useful tool in curbing the rate at which people smoke.

‘’It is well established that smokers have a lower body weight on average than non-smokers, possibly due to reduced appetite, but many gain weight after they stop smoking, however those who smoke more intensively, tend to weigh more.”

Meanwhile, Christopher Wild, IARC director said, “prevention of smoking is key to reducing the global burden of cancer and other chronic diseases, such as cardiovascular disease and diabetes,” as obesity is among the preventable causes of the chronic illnesses.

IARC is a WHO agency mandated to conduct research on the causes of cancer and its prevention.