Associations of smoking and smoking cessation with CT-measured visceral obesity in 4656 Korean men

ObjectivesAlthough obesity is shown to be less common among current smokers than never smokers, the association between visceral obesity and smoking remains uncertain.MethodsFor this cross-sectional analysis, we recruited 4656 Korean men of 19 to 79 years who received a regular checkup at a health examination center between 2008 and 2010. Computed tomography was performed to measure the area of visceral and subcutaneous adipose tissue (VAT and SAT). We compared the mean VAT by multiple regression analysis across smoking status after adjusting for confounders.ResultsBoth current and former smokers had more mean VAT than never smokers. Current smokers who consumed more than 20 cigarettes per day had 11% higher mean VAT than never smokers (P < 0.01). Longer smoking duration, higher daily cigarette consumption before quitting, and shorter abstinence duration among ex-smokers were associated with increasing mean VAT (all P for trend < 0.01). The mean VAT in former smokers was highest within 2 years of abstinence. There was no significant difference of mean VAT between ex-smokers with > 20 years of abstinence duration and never smokers.ConclusionBoth current and former smoking is associated with increased VAT. The risk of visceral obesity is proportional to the degree of exposure to cigarette smoking.

► Smokers had more visceral adipose tissue (VAT) mass than never smokers. ► VAT mass was proportional to the degree of exposure to cigarette smoking. ► The mean VAT mass in former smokers was highest within 2 years of abstinence. ► Ex-smokers with > 20 years of abstinence had comparable VAT mass to never smokers.