Smokers are less likely to engage in regular physical activity, underscoring the need for early prevention strategies to help mitigate long-term effects of the habit, according to a Bahrain-based study.
The research, titled ‘Association between Cigarette Smoking and Selected Health-Related Physical Fitness Indicators in Young Bahraini Men: A Pilot Cross-Sectional Study’, uncovered the worrying link.
It was conducted by the kingdom’s Primary Healthcare Centre Physical Therapy Department’s Mohamed Alrayes and British University in Egypt Faculty of Physiotherapy’s Dalia Kamel.
No significant difference between the BMI of smokers and non-smokers, according to the study
It looked at 41 men, between the ages of 18 to 26, classified them as smokers and non-smokers, and assessed their exercise habits.
“Cigarette smoking remains one of the most significant global public health challenges,” the study said. “It is a leading cause of preventable death and contributes to a wide range of health disparities and is associated with increased risks of cardiovascular disease, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, renal dysfunction, stroke and neurodegenerative conditions.
Non-smokers have shown to have slightly high FVC values
“In Bahrain, the prevalence of smoking among adults aged 15 years and older was estimated at 18.1 per cent in 2022, with a marked gender disparity: 25.7pc among males and 4.9pc among females.
“Despite this high prevalence, there is a notable lack of localised research investigating the impact of smoking on physical fitness within the Bahraini population. This study examined the association between cigarette smoking and selected indicators of physical fitness among male students at a private university in Bahrain.”
Half of smokers stated that they never exercise, as opposed to 57pc of non-smokers who do regular physical activities
Participants of the study were divided into two groups, including 20 smokers and 21 non-smokers.
According to the results, the average Body Mass Index (BMI) of smokers is around 24.5 kg/m², while that of non-smokers was 25.6 kg/m², revealing that there was no significant difference.
The study also analysed Forced Vital Capacity (FVC) – the maximum total volume of air that can be forcibly exhaled from the lungs after taking the deepest breath possible. It evaluates lung capacity, respiratory muscle strength and helps diagnose lung diseases.
Non-smoker participants covered more ground in six minutes than smokers
The average FVC value for smokers was 4,717.5 compared to 4,754.76 for non-smokers, showing that non-smokers on average have a slightly higher capacity.
A six-minute walk test, which measures the distance a person can walk on a flat, hard surface in six minutes, was also conducted, with smokers able to cover 572.2 metres on average, while non-smokers were able to cover more, at 604.3 metres.
As for general physical activity and exercise, 10 smokers (50pc) stated that they never exercise, seven (35pc) said that they exercise regularly, while the remaining three (15pc) stated that they only exercise occasionally.
Meanwhile, most non-smokers (12, 57pc) said that they exercise regularly, five (24pc) exercise occasionally and four participants (19pc) never exercise.
“Non-smokers were more likely to engage in regular physical activity, suggesting that lifestyle behaviours stem from the act,” the study concluded. “These findings indicate that, in young adults, even with limited smoking history, early differences in exercise habits could influence long-term health trajectories.
“This underscores the need for early preventive strategies and longitudinal research to assess long-term effects of smoking in young men.
“Examining behavioural interventions that promote physical activity among young smokers may help mitigate long-term adverse effects.
“Future studies with larger sample sizes, longer follow-up periods, and more sensitive functional assessments are recommended to further elucidate the impact of smoking on physical fitness cross people’s lifespan in the kingdom.”
nader@gdnmedia.bh
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