Young smoke to stay thin and calm - report (From South Wales Argus)

Young smoke to stay thin and calm - report

YOUNG people in some of Wales’ most deprived areas smoke to keep calm and keep their weight down.

That’s according to charity Rathbone Cymru, which found 68 per cent of a group of 14- to 21-year-olds they spoke to smoke - with 80 per cent of these having more than five cigarettes a day.

The study also found 58 per cent of youngsters asked don’t eat breakfast, 63 per cent do no sport and 55 per cent regularly drank energy drinks.

Fifty-six per cent watched sport but only 37 per cent took part in it, and 40 per cent were already experiencing physical and mental health problems associated with poor diet and lack of exercise.

Rathbone Cymru says the statistics were worrying, especially given that 78 per cent of those who took part were taught about healthy eating in school.

Peter Gibson, for the charity, said when asked why they smokedmany youngsters said it helped calm them down and others said they did it to keep their weight down.

Of those asked many condemned gym membership prices, poor sports facilities and the lack of encouragement to take part.

The group was also generally against increased pricing and bans on junk food adverts.