Smoking and body weight: evidence using genetic instruments

George L Wehby; Jeffrey C Murray; Allen Wilcox; Rolv T Lie

doi:10.1016/j.ehb.2011.09.002

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Smoking and body weight: evidence using genetic instruments

Journal article

Peer reviewed

Smoking and body weight: evidence using genetic instruments

George L Wehby, Jeffrey C Murray, Allen Wilcox and Rolv T Lie

Economics and human biology, Vol.10(2), pp.113-126

03/2012

DOI: 10.1016/j.ehb.2011.09.002

PMCID: PMC3272157

PMID: 22024417

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Abstract

Several studies have evaluated whether the high and rising obesity rates over the past three decades may be due to the declining smoking rates. There is mixed evidence across studies - some find negative smoking effects and positive cigarette cost effects on body weight, while others find opposite effects. This study applies a unique approach to identify the smoking effects on body weight and to evaluate the heterogeneity in these effects across the body mass index (BMI) distribution by utilizing genetic instruments for smoking. Using a data sample of 1057 mothers from Norway, the study finds heterogeneous effects of cigarette smoking on BMI - smoking increases BMI at low/moderate BMI levels and decreases BMI at high BMI levels. The study highlights the potential advantages and challenges of employing genetic instrumental variables to identify behavior effects including the importance of qualifying the instruments and the need for large samples.

Body Mass Index

Smoking - adverse effects

Body Weight

Humans

Genotype

Male

Smoking - genetics

Mothers

Mouth Abnormalities - genetics

Socioeconomic Factors

Overweight - epidemiology

Overweight - etiology

Norway

Smoking - epidemiology

Adult

Female

Polymorphism, Single Nucleotide

Details

Title: Subtitle: Smoking and body weight: evidence using genetic instruments
Creators: George L Wehby - Dept. of Health Management and Policy, College of Public Health, University of Iowa, 200 Hawkins Drive, E205 GH, Iowa City, IA 52242, USA. george-wehby@uiowa.edu
Jeffrey C Murray
Allen Wilcox
Rolv T Lie
Resource Type: Journal article
Publication Details: Economics and human biology, Vol.10(2), pp.113-126
DOI: 10.1016/j.ehb.2011.09.002
PMID: 22024417
PMCID: PMC3272157
NLM abbreviation: Econ Hum Biol
ISSN: 1570-677X
eISSN: 1873-6130
Publisher: Netherlands
Grant note: R03 DE018394-02 / NIDCR NIH HHS R01 DE20895 / NIDCR NIH HHS R03 DE018394 / NIDCR NIH HHS Intramural NIH HHS R01 DE020895 / NIDCR NIH HHS R01 DE020895-02 / NIDCR NIH HHS
Language: English
Date published: 03/2012
Academic Unit: Preventive and Community Dentistry; Anatomy and Cell Biology; Health Management and Policy; Stead Family Department of Pediatrics; Epidemiology; Economics; Pediatric Dentistry; Craniofacial Anomalies Research Center; Public Policy Center (Archive); Dental Research
Record Identifier: 9984025467202771

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