Comparison of daily life habits and health examination data between smokers and ex-smokers suggests that ex-smokers acquire several healthy-lifestyle practices.

BACKGROUND: The association between smoking and health status including healthful life habits was evaluated in subjects living in a rural Japanese area.
METHODS: A cross-sectional survey was conducted with subjects who were smokers and ex-smokers ranging in age from 40 to 59 years who participated in health examinations in 1993 in 17 towns of Gunma Prefecture, Japan. A total of 4,629 of 6,076 subjects (76.2%) agreed to an interview by our public health nurses. Numbers of smokers and ex-smokers among subjects were 2,681 and 245, respectively.
RESULTS: Percentages of subjects in their 40s (p <0.01) who ate breakfast daily and those of subjects in their 50s (p <0.05) who exercised more than once a week were significantly higher among ex-smokers than among smokers. Mean body mass index (BMI) was higher in ex-smokers than in current smokers in their 40s (p <0.05) and 50s (p <0.01), and mean high-density lipoprotein cholesterol level (HDLC) was also significantly higher in ex-smokers than in current smokers in their 40s (p <0.05). Furthermore, two-way analysis of variance on BMI and HDLC was conducted considering smoking and drinking habits. BMI was related only with smoking both in subjects in their 40s (p <0.05) and those in their 50s (p <0.001). HDLC was related with both smoking and drinking in subjects in their 40s and to only drinking in subjects in their 50s (p <0.001).
CONCLUSIONS: Ex-smokers performed regular exercise more often and showed improvement of lipid metabolism. To clarify cause-effect relationship between smoking and health status or habits, a follow-up study including factors such as smoking status, pulmonary function, exercise habits, and obesity should be conducted.