Impact of Cigarette Smoking on Body Mass Index in Adult Males: Evidence from a Bangladeshi Population.

Cigarette smoking remains a leading preventable cause of morbidity and mortality worldwide. Nicotine and other constituents of cigarette smoke alter metabolic rate, appetite and body composition, potentially influencing Body mass index (BMI). Evidence regarding this association in South-Asian populations, particularly in Bangladesh, is limited. To determine the effect of cigarette smoking on BMI among adult male smokers compared with age-matched non-smokers. Consequently, this analytical cross-sectional study was conducted at the Department of Physiology, Mymensingh Medical College, Bangladesh, from July 2024 to June 2025, involving 200 adult male participants aged 20-70 years. The study group (Group II) consisted of 100 male smokers, while the control group (Group I) included 100 male non-smokers. Data were analyzed using the Statistical Product and Service Solutions (SPSS). Weight and height were measured anthropometrically in kilograms and meters, respectively. To see if there were significant differences between groups, we used the unpaired Students 't' test and shared results as mean (±SD). The average BMI for those in the control group was 24.82±2.98 kg/m². In contrast, the study group's average BMI was lower at 22.71±4.19 kg/m² (p<0.001). In conclusion, this study's findings revealed a significant link between cigarette smoking and lower BMI in males. Therefore, we suggested that health intervention programs for quitting smoking should consider the perceived benefits of smoking in relation to body weight.