Diet quality, physical activity and smoking. Do they influence weight? How?

Almost anyone would think that diet quality influences weight changes, but the truth is there are not many clear conclusions about it scientifically, because it seems that there are other determinant factors as well, like: if you smoke or not, if you exercise or not, etc.

In a study recently published at the Journal of Nutrition (Vol. 140, No. 7, July 2010), 1515 women and men above 30 years old with normal weight and healthy were assessed for weight status along time (study lasted 16 years).

Findings were:

Women who advanced in age and were constant physically active didn´t gain weight. Which everybody would think is obvious but...

If this women had a bad quality diet and used to be smokers some time in their life, they were in the group with higher weight gain.

Moral of a fable: If you're a woman, used to smoke, like to exercise but don't eat fine, you'll change to a pear shape sometime.=)

Men in the study, advancing in age and who smoke, don't gain weight. But...

If any man happens to go through ups and downs of weight during his life due to a bad quality diet and used to be a smoker, would gain weight.

Moral of a fable: If you're a man, and quit smoking (good!), but please change your diet too so that you don't get that apple shape! when older! =)

I must say, that age was the highest predictor of weight change in women and men. Curiously or shamefully, women with normal weight or overweight were more susceptible of becoming obese due to a bad quality diet, smoking or non smoking status and physical activity status.

If you're a woman and decide to quit smoking, improve your diet and your physical activity in order to avoid the statistic of being in the group with higher weight gain.

By the way, it was a conclusion that age, weight status and smoking status were higher predictors of gain weight more than diet quality.

And finally, be careful younger people, because women and men during younger ages were more susceptible to weight changes, so keep on to a healthy physical activity level, a good quality diet and of course... Quit smoking!

Go from Diet quality to other Diet related articles

Return to Lifetime Fitness Nutrition Homepage

New! Comments