Smokers tend to gain weight in the less desirable "apple" pattern, while nonsmokers tend more toward the "pear" shape.
definition
When people gain weight, they do it in different ways. Some people gain weight in their upper bodies, giving them an "apple" shape; others gain weight in their lower bodies and therefore become "pear" shaped. The "apple" shape is less healthful than the "pear" shape; it has been associated with increased risks of several diseases, including heart disease, high blood pressure, and diabetes.
explanation
Smoking influences body weight and the distribution of fat in the body; these effects are believed to be caused by changes in various hormones.
Some people think that if you start to smoke, you will lose weight. But this is not true. Starting to smoke is not associated with any change in weight. (Though quitting smoking is often associated with a gain in weight.) However, as smokers grow older, they do gain less weight over the years than typical nonsmokers do; hormone-related changes in the rate at which the body burns calories may be responsible.
