Association Between Cigarette Smoking and Selected Health-Related Physical Fitness Indicators in Young Bahraini Men: A Pilot Cross-Sectional Study

Background: Cigarette smoking is a major global health issue, but its effects on health-related physical fitness among young adults in the Middle East—particularly in Bahrain—are not well studied. Most existing research focuses on older or Western populations. This study fills that gap by investigating the association between smoking status and BMI, pulmonary function (FVC), and functional capacity (6MWT) among male university students in Bahrain, a population for which localized evidence is currently lacking. Methods: Forty-one men aged 18–26 years were classified as smokers (n=20) or non-smokers (n=21). Standardized protocols were used for anthropometry, spirometry, and 6MWT. Exercise habits were assessed via a questionnaire. Between-group differences were estimated using unpaired t-test, with effect sizes and 95% confidence intervals reported. Results: The results showed that there were no significant differences between smokers and non-smokers in all measured parameters. The P values were 0.545, 0.885, and 0.278 for BMI, FVC, and 6MWT respectively. For the physical activity and exercising status, among the smoker's group, 50% never exercised, 15% had occasional exercise, and 35% had regular planned exercising. Among the non-smokers group, 19% never exercised, 24% had occasional exercise, and 57% had regular planned exercise. Conclusion: This study offers the first evidence from Bahrain on smoking and physical fitness in young men, indicating that lifestyle behaviors may differ despite unaffected short-term physiological measures and underscoring the need for early preventive strategies and longitudinal research to assess long-term effects.