The objective of the study was to investigate whether and to what extent the lifestyle of smokers differs from that of non-smokers within the framework of a relatively homogeneous population group. In the course of a preventive project the authors investigated, using questionnaires, the lifestyle of a total of 4353 parents of schoolchildren in Brno town. The results revealed many differences between smokers and non-smokers in both sexes. The evaluation of dietary habits, using food groups of the food pyramind, revealed in smokers a lower consumption of the group „others“ (sweeteners and fats). Within the framework of evaluation of sub-categories of foods the consumption of meat products (smoked meat pro- ducts) was significantly higher among smokers, while their consumption of whole grain cereals was lower. Smokers had also a lower preference for low fat milk and dairy products. Female smokers reported a less frequent alcohol consumption (in men the difference was not significant) but the weekly consumption was in both sexes higher in smokers and so was the ratio of subjects who drank more than the safe limit. Marked differences to the disadvantage of smokers were recorded as regards sports and recreational physical activity. Lower cumulative weekly fre- quencies, a lower ratio of subjects engaged regularly in sports, and a lower total volumne of physical activity expressed as the sports index ( weekly energy expenditure). There were only slight differences in the mean BMI values (higher values in male smokers) and also only in men there was a higher ratio of obese subjects, but in both sexes there were more underweight subjects among smokers. As to reported health status, there were no major differences, only slightly more frequent use of medicaments in male smokers and a tendency of poorer subjective evaluation of the health status in female smokers, however, non-smokers of both sexes displayed greater interest in primary preventive examinations. The assessed differences confirm the generally less healthy lifestyle of smokers and support the hypothesis that the known adverse impact of smoking can be partly mediated and potentiated by other cumulating risk factors.

        Key words: smoking - smokers and non-smokers - differences in lifestyle - dietary