Smoking at a young age could lead to larger waistlines later on in life for both men and women, and increases the risk of obesity in women. Repetitive weight loss programs also contribute to weight gain for men. The findings were reported in a Helsinki University doctoral thesis submitted for approval Friday. Weight gain and obesity have become more widespread in recent years. More than half of western populations are overweight and one fifth are obese. Cases of obesity are increasing at an especially rapid rate among the young.
Weight gain, particularly around the midsection, combined with smoking increases susceptibility to heart and vascular disease, metabolic disorders, and many types of cancer.
And obesity is growing side by side with weight loss programs and their related health complications. Smoking as a means to weight control method has also become a common practice.
People who lose weight quickly often suffer health complications as a result of engaging in crash programs. The gains made during such intense regimens are often lost, as individuals end up registering more on the scales than before.
The body may even resort to redistributing fat in a more unhealthy fashion. Three out of four persons who have undergone dramatic weight loss report that they have gained more weight after their initial success.
Helsinki University researcher and writer of the doctoral thesis, Suoma Saarni studied the effects of repetitive weight loss programs and smoking on weight. Saarni also looked at the impact that smoking has on accumulating spare kilos around the waistline.
The thesis examined the relationship between repetitive weight loss and smoking in Finland and its impact on different age groups and genders.