Smoking and Human Biology

Document Type

Article

Authors

Stanley M. Garn, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan

Abstract

As shown in the data of the National Health and Nutrition Examination Surveys (NHANES) and the National Collaborative Perinatal Project (NCPP) cigarette smoking has a major effect on adult weight and fatness, pregnancy weight gain, gestation length, birthweight and size and behavioral development through the early school years. All weight and fatness tabulations on adult males since 1917 and all such data on females since 1942 are derived from mixed pools of smokers and nonsmokers. In similar fashion, data on prepregnancy weight, pregnancy weight gain, gestation length, birthweight, placental size and placental ratios are derived from a 50-50 mix of smokers and nonsmokers. Dimensional data on infants, toddlers and children are similarly contaminated by maternal smoking during pregnancy and passive smoking thereafter. New data, restricted to nonsmokers and nonsmoking families will involve an upward revision of weight and fatness standards and new estimates of ideal or desirable weight or weight for height or frame size.

Recommended Citation

Garn, Stanley M. (1985) "Smoking and Human Biology," Human Biology: Vol. 57: Iss. 4, Article 3.
Available at: https://digitalcommons.wayne.edu/humbiol/vol57/iss4/3