The factual number of early-deaths due to smoking more than 10 cigarettes per day is equal to the number of deaths of non-smoker teens who are obese, a study found. Smoking more than 10 cigarettes carry the same risk of death as carried by teenage overweight (but not obese). The highest risk is with those people who are obese as well as smoke more than 5 cigarettes a day.
The Study
The study was carried on about 45,000 young men who were conscripted for military services at the age of 16 to 19 as they had above normal body mass index or were habitual smokers. They were observed for about the average age of 38 years. Shockingly, about 2,897 died by then. Study shows that they have 5 times more risk of dying early than non-smokers of same age with healthy weight.
The Results
People who are obese as well as smoke more than 5 cigarettes a day have 5 times more risk of early death than non-smokers of same age with healthy weight. The risk for overweight person of dying early is about one —third .The risk just doubles with the obesity factor in people.
Moreover, mortality risks increased with the intensity of smoking .Smoking cigarettes more than 10 a day just doubles the risk. The most fatal risk is faced by obese chain smokers. Another outcome of the study was that even seriously underweight smokers have the risk of dying early.
What Can Be Done?
A public health initiative can save the young from death so early. If something cannot be done at the family level then a legal restraint can at least save the young lives from getting lost so early. This is keeping smoking in mind. For the Obesity factor, he family and the individual should take note of that and help themselves from the situation.
