Study finds an association, but some experts are skeptical
Jump to full article: HealthDay [HealthScout], 2009-01-22
Author: Randy Dotinga HealthDay Reporter
Intro: A surprising Finnish study casts doubts on the common assumption smokers have that their unhealthy habit helps keep them thin.
Specifically, the researchers found that teens who smoke heavily were more likely to grow up to be fat.
There's still no evidence that cigarettes directly cause obesity, but "this is one more thing people should take into account when they consider their smoking habits," said study author Dr. Suoma Saarni, a researcher at the University of Helsinki.
American experts, however, are somewhat skeptical of the findings, which are published in the February issue of the American Journal of Public Health. . . .
Why might smoking lead to obesity? Saarni said it could have something to do with changes in the body's metabolism -- its ability to process food and keep fat from building up.
Michael Siegel, professor at Boston University School of Public Health, said there may not be a direct link.
Most likely, he said, "smokers tend to have a constellation of poor health habits, including poorer diet and less physical activity. It is most likely that these factors, and not the smoking itself, is causing them to become obese."
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