ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: Smoking is a significant cause of mortality and is strongly associated with the development of morbid diseases, such as obesity. There is a considerable interest in understanding the impact of smoking on body weight. The exact nature remains unclear due to the mixed results observed in the literature review. The aim of this study is to evaluate the association between smoking and body weight concerning demographic characteristics in the western region of Saudi Arabia. METHODS: This cross-sectional study was carried out in the western region of Saudi Arabia from November 15, 2022 to July 15, 2023. To collect data, an online survey was utilized, and the survey link was shared across various social media platforms. The survey was completed by a total of 744 individuals who were at least 18 years old and answered a self-reported questionnaire on the web. RESULTS: Analysis showed that (39%) of participants lead a sedentary lifestyle, and (58.8%) have an abnormal BMI. Among them approximately 25% are overweight, 12.4% are obese, and 7.4% are extremely obese. Moreover, a greater number of them were traditional smokers. Our study reported that individuals who had quit smoking were more likely to be overweight. Regarding self-perception of their weight, almost half of the participants consider themselves overweight and they're more likely to smoke, whether it be traditional or electronic cigarettes. CONCLUSION: This study revealed a strong link between smoking habits and increased weight status, as measured by body mass indexes. These findings have important implications for public health interventions aimed at reducing smoking rates and obesity levels. By recognizing the potential connection between these two risk factors, experts in public health can develop more effective strategies to promote healthy behaviors and prevent chronic diseases among young individuals.
ABSTRACT
Background Electronic cigarettes (e-cigarettes and vapour devices) are the most commonly used form of alternative tobacco products (ATPs). The use of these vapour devices has been dramatically increasing worldwide, especially among current and former traditional cigarette smokers. A strong influence that will affect patients' health attitudes and play a crucial role in tobacco control and smoking cessation are medical students, as they are future physicians. Therefore, in our study, we aimed to determine the prevalence rate of e-cigarettes and the level of knowledge among medical students in Saudi Arabia and Bahrain. Methods We conducted a cross-sectional study of medical students in Saudi Arabia and Bahrain using an online survey. This was distributed through social media platforms such as Twitter, WhatsApp, Telegram, and Facebook. Medical students of all years were included. The questionnaire was adapted from two previous studies. Results The study enrolled 1730 medical students. The majority of the participants did not recommend the use of e-cigarettes as a method for smoking cessation or believed that these types of ATPs lower the risk of cancer in comparison with traditional cigarettes. The data showed a strong association between gender and e-cigarette smoking, with the majority of current smokers being men (n = 184) and experimental smokers being women (n = 800). Moreover, an educational gap was discovered, as few of the students had received an education in their medical school's curriculum on the use of e-cigarettes. There was a significant association between receiving an education at a medical school and having adequate knowledge of e-cigarettes. Conclusion The increasing number of e-cigarette users among medical students is concerning. Our study showed that students are not receiving a decent education on the use of ATPs during medical school, which urges further adjustment of the curriculum. This will play a huge role in their behaviour and the provision of future treatment plans to patients as physicians.
