Gender-specific associations between tobacco use and body mass index among school-going adolescents in Malaysia: results from the National Health Morbidity Survey 2017
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 dif...
| Main Authors: | , , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia
2025
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| Online Access: | http://journalarticle.ukm.my/25676/ http://journalarticle.ukm.my/25676/1/2157-2166%20-.pdf |
| _version_ | 1848816422769131520 |
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| author | Zamtira Seman, Jayvikramjit Singh M.S., Ridwan Sanaudi, Nor Hazimah Yeop Abd Rashid, Mohd Azahadi Omar, |
| author_facet | Zamtira Seman, Jayvikramjit Singh M.S., Ridwan Sanaudi, Nor Hazimah Yeop Abd Rashid, Mohd Azahadi Omar, |
| author_sort | Zamtira Seman, |
| building | UKM Institutional Repository |
| collection | Online Access |
| description | 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. |
| first_indexed | 2025-11-15T01:05:38Z |
| format | Article |
| id | oai:generic.eprints.org:25676 |
| institution | Universiti Kebangasaan Malaysia |
| institution_category | Local University |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2025-11-15T01:05:38Z |
| publishDate | 2025 |
| publisher | Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia |
| recordtype | eprints |
| repository_type | Digital Repository |
| spelling | oai:generic.eprints.org:256762025-07-25T03:20:09Z http://journalarticle.ukm.my/25676/ 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 M.S., Ridwan Sanaudi, Nor Hazimah Yeop Abd Rashid, Mohd Azahadi Omar, 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. Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia 2025-03-06 Article PeerReviewed application/pdf en http://journalarticle.ukm.my/25676/1/2157-2166%20-.pdf Zamtira Seman, and Jayvikramjit Singh M.S., and Ridwan Sanaudi, and Nor Hazimah Yeop Abd Rashid, and Mohd Azahadi Omar, (2025) Gender-specific associations between tobacco use and body mass index among school-going adolescents in Malaysia: results from the National Health Morbidity Survey 2017. International Journal of Public Health Research, 15 (1). pp. 2157-2166. ISSN 2232-0245 http://spaj.ukm.my/ijphr/index.php/ijphr |
| spellingShingle | Zamtira Seman, Jayvikramjit Singh M.S., Ridwan Sanaudi, Nor Hazimah Yeop Abd Rashid, Mohd Azahadi Omar, Gender-specific associations between tobacco use and body mass index among school-going adolescents in Malaysia: results from the National Health Morbidity Survey 2017 |
| title | Gender-specific associations between tobacco use and body mass index among school-going adolescents in Malaysia: results from the National Health Morbidity Survey 2017 |
| title_full | Gender-specific associations between tobacco use and body mass index among school-going adolescents in Malaysia: results from the National Health Morbidity Survey 2017 |
| title_fullStr | Gender-specific associations between tobacco use and body mass index among school-going adolescents in Malaysia: results from the National Health Morbidity Survey 2017 |
| title_full_unstemmed | Gender-specific associations between tobacco use and body mass index among school-going adolescents in Malaysia: results from the National Health Morbidity Survey 2017 |
| title_short | Gender-specific associations between tobacco use and body mass index among school-going adolescents in Malaysia: results from the National Health Morbidity Survey 2017 |
| title_sort | gender-specific associations between tobacco use and body mass index among school-going adolescents in malaysia: results from the national health morbidity survey 2017 |
| url | http://journalarticle.ukm.my/25676/ http://journalarticle.ukm.my/25676/ http://journalarticle.ukm.my/25676/1/2157-2166%20-.pdf |