A Finnish study has cast doubts on this well-known assumption that the unhealthy habit of smoking helps keep smokers thin.

The study finds that those teens, who smoke heavily, have higher chances of getting excess pounds in their old age.

“There is no direct evidence which proves smoking can cause obesity, however, people must consider this risk for their unhealthy smoking habits,” says Dr. Suoma Saarni, the lead author of the study.

However, different American experts are doubtful about these findings which are expected in the Journal of Public Health, February issue.

Smoking has been associated with thinness, not with obesity for a quite long time.  Saarni also pointed out that people when stop smoking, they often have to suffer from increased weight. There are some studies which reveal that many adult women and teens use smoking as a remedy for weight loss.

In their study, Saarni and team examined the findings from different questionnaires that were given to those 4,296 twins that were born in Finland during 1975-79. These twins were studied at 4 stages in 16-27 years of age.

The researchers noted those teens that used to smoke nearly 10 cigarettes every day at 16-18 years of ages had higher odds of getting fat in old ages.  These higher rates were noted even when researchers adjusted the effects of some other factors. In women, the chances of getting obese were even higher.

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