Premium
Occasional Smoking and Body Weight among Adults
Author(s) -
Kasteridis Panagiotis,
Yen Steven T.
Publication year - 2014
Publication title -
applied economic perspectives and policy
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.4
H-Index - 49
eISSN - 2040-5804
pISSN - 2040-5790
DOI - 10.1093/aepp/ppu008
Subject(s) - body mass index , body weight , medicine , demography , behavioral risk factor surveillance system , weight control , environmental health , gerontology , obesity , population , sociology
We explore the effects of occasional smoking on body mass index (BMI) in comparison to non‐smoking and daily smoking in adults age 18–50. Data are compiled from the 2005–2008 Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System. Though smaller than that of daily smoking, occasional smoking is found to have a negative and substantial effect on body weight. Differences in the effect of occasional smoking on body weight across BMI categories are small. Unlike daily smoking, the effects of occasional smoking on BMI are larger for females, exceeding 50% of the effects of daily smoking on BMI. These large effects constitute a threat as occasional smoking might be seen by females as an effective weight control strategy that carries lower health risks than daily smoking. Strategies to reduce smoking should then emphasize the proportional health risks of occasional smoking.