Smokers, short people those with light builds are more likely to die by suicide, research suggested Tuesday.

According to professor Ji Sun-ha of Yonsei University and the National Health Insurance Corporation which tracked 1,329,525 people from 1992, 389 men and 83 women committed suicide.

Men shorter than 165 centimeters were 1.68 times more likely to kill themselves than those more than 173 centimeters tall. Men with lighter builds ― a body mass index of less than 18.4 ― were 2.1 times more likely to commit suicide than those with a BMI above 25. For women, the difference was 1.6 times.

Men were 1.69 times more likely to kill themselves if they smoked. Female smokers were 2.19 times more likely. Other factors affecting rates were income, alcohol consumption and marital status.

“Nothing is for sure but we assume mental stress in early childhood may have affected suicidal decision,” Ji said.

(baejisook@heraldcorp.com)