Differences in Lifestyle of a Smoking and Non-smoking Population in Japan

If smokers have different lifestyle including dietary habit in comparison to non-smokers, this difference have an influence on the evaluation of the risks of smoking for tobacco-related diseases or the design of anti-smoking campaigns. In Japan, 1,745 men over the age of 40 were surveyed regarding health consciousness in 1996 and 2,136 men between the ages of 50 and 65 were surveyed regarding dietary habits in 1993-1994. Comparative analysis was done among the smoking and non-smoking groups. The rate of participation in cancer mass-screening for smokers was significantly lower than for non-smokers. Smokers had consumed significantly lower amounts of vegetables, fruits and beans, which are well known beneficial factors for health than non-smokers, and had consumed more salt, salty food and alcohol, which are well known risk factors for health. It is suggested that smokers have disadvantageous characteristics for promoting and maintaining a healthy lifestyle more than in non-smokers. Accordingly, to evaluate the risk of smoking for tobacco-related diseases in epidemiological researches, we should properly treat these data as confounding factors. Furthermore, anti-smoking campaigns should be performed considering these differences.