1.Gender-specific Associations between Tobacco Use and Body Mass Index among School-going Adolescents in Malaysia: Results from the National Health Morbidity Survey 2017
Zamtira Seman ; Jayvikramjit Singh MS ; Ridwan Sanaudi ; Nor Hazimah Yeop Abd Rashid ; Mohd Azahadi Omar
International Journal of Public Health Research 2025;15(1):2157-2166
		                        		
		                        			
		                        			Tobacco  uses  and  obesity  are  major  global  public  health  concerns,  with  adolescence being a critical period for the onset of these risk factors. In Malaysia, rising trends in adolescent smoking and obesity necessitate further investigation. This  study  examined  gender-specific  associations  between  different  types  of  tobacco use and body mass index (BMI) among school-going adolescents. Data  were  derived  from  the  NHMS  2017,  a  nationwide  cross-sectional  survey  using  a  two-stage stratified  random  sampling  design  (N=27,497).  Complex  sample  logistic  regression  was  employed  to  assess  the  odds  of  past  30-day tobacco  use  by  BMI  category  (underweight/normal  weight,  overweight,  obese)  stratified by gender. Confounders, including age, ethnicity, physical activity, fast food consumption, and mental health, were controlled for in the analysis. Adolescents  classified  as  obese  had  a  significant  association  with  tobacco  use,  but  this  was  not  observed  in  overweight  individuals.  Male  smokers  were  significantly  less  likely  to  be  obese,  whereas  female  smokers  had  a  higher  likelihood  of  obesity  (AOR  =  1.59,  95%  CI:  1.25–2.02).  Specifically,  female  users of e-cigarettes (AOR = 1.86, 95% CI: 1.36–2.56), smokeless tobacco (AOR = 1.66, 95% CI: 1.14–2.43), and other tobacco products (AOR = 1.62, 95% CI: 1.05–2.52)  exhibited  a  higher  risk  of  obesity.  No  significant  association  was  found among male smokers. Female adolescent smokers showed a greater likelihood of obesity, emphasizing the need for gender-specific interventions. To mitigate these risks, public health efforts  should  incorporate  education,  policy  measures,  and  lifestyle  promotion.  Further research is warranted to explore underlying biological mechanisms
		                        		
		                        		
		                        		
		                        	
            
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