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American Public Health Association
133rd Annual Meeting & Exposition
December 10-14, 2005
Philadelphia, PA
APHA 2005
 
4292.0: Tuesday, December 13, 2005 - 4:30 PM

Abstract #116987

Smoking and obesity: A profile of two epidemics

Cheryl Healton, DrPH1, Donna Vallone, PhD2, Kristen McCausland, MPH, MSW3, James Xiao, MS4, and Molly Green, MPH4. (1) President and CEO, American Legacy Foundation, 2030 M Street, NW, 6th Floor, Washington, DC 20036, 202-454-5555, chealton@americanlegacy.org, (2) Director of Research & Evaluation, American Legacy Foundation, 2030 M Street NW, Washington, DC 20009, (3) American Legacy Founcation, 2030 M Street, NW, 6th Floor, Washington, DC 20036, (4) American Legacy Foundation, 2030 M Street, NW, 6th Floor, Washington, DC 20036

Methods: A cross-sectional analysis of 23,488 adults (³ 18 yrs old) was conducted using data from the 2002 National Health Interview Survey (NHIS), to determine the proportion of US adults who are currently obese (BMI ³ 30.0), current smokers, and concurrent obese smokers. Prevalence rates were also stratified by age, sex, race/ethnic group, education, income, geographic region, occupation, and employment status. Results: Findings indicate that the proportion of adults who are obese is 23.5%, those who report current smoking is 22.7%, and the proportion of adult obese smokers is 4.7%. The proportion of those who both currently smoke and are obese is 8.8% among those living below the poverty line, indicating that an estimated 1.2 million Americans of substantial socioeconomic disadvantage bear the burden of both epidemics. Conclusions: Results suggest that there are two separate epidemics. Furthermore, while the proportion of adult obese smokers is relatively low, this subgroup is concentrated among the disadvantaged. Interventions to address smoking, obesity, and the smaller cross-over epidemic will require three comprehensive, but largely separate, concerted public health efforts.

Learning Objectives:

Keywords: Smoking, Obesity

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

I wish to disclose that I have NO financial interests or other relationship with the manufactures of commercial products, suppliers of commercial services or commercial supporters.

[ Recorded presentation ] Recorded presentation

Tobacco Use in Young Adults

The 133rd Annual Meeting & Exposition (December 10-14, 2005) of APHA