Science / Medicine : Pot-Bellied Smokers

Smokers appear to be prone to pot bellies. A new study shows that while men and women who smoke tend to weigh less than nonsmokers, they are more likely to carry their weight in unsightly places--around their abdomens.

“Many people, especially women, smoke, in part, to stay thin. This suggests that smokers may be thin, yes, but gorgeous? Maybe not,” said Dr. Elizabeth Barrett-Connor of the UC San Diego School of Medicine, who led the study.

“It’s just one more piece of information about the notion that smoking is bad for you,” Barrett-Connor said. “Most people don’t want pot bellies.”

Previous studies showed smokers tend to be thinner than nonsmokers and that smokers tend to gain weight when they quit. Surveys show that many smokers avoid quitting for fear of gaining weight.

The study, published in the Annals of Internal Medicine, found smokers are more likely than nonsmokers to accumulate fat as “abdominal paunchiness” and the tendency appeared to increase with the number of cigarettes smoked for both sexes, Barrett-Conner said.

Although researchers are not sure why smoking would influence body fat distribution, studies suggest smoking may affect hormones that can influence body shape, she said.