Research from University College London suggests that there has been a rise in the proportion of women under the age of 45 from middle-class and wealthier backgrounds who smoke in England. According to the study, the percentage of women in this demographic who smoke increased from 12% to 15% between 2013 and 2023. Conversely, smoking rates among less advantaged women decreased from 29% to 22% during the same period.
Dr. Sarah Jackson, one of the researchers involved in the study, expressed concern about this apparent increase in smoking among more advantaged women under 45, emphasizing the need for targeted interventions to prevent smoking uptake or relapse in this group. She highlighted the importance of reducing smoking among women in this age group due to its adverse effects on fertility, pregnancy, and infant health.
The study, published in the journal BMC Medicine, also noted a shift towards more smokers using hand-rolled cigarettes rather than manufactured ones, with this trend being more pronounced among young women than men.
Dr. Sharon Cox noted that the reasons for the possible increase in smoking among more advantaged women under 45 are not entirely clear, suggesting that financial pressures may have been less influential for this group. Additionally, some may have transitioned to cheaper hand-rolled cigarettes.
The study also observed a rise in vaping among women under 45, with the proportion increasing from 5% to 20%, mirroring a similar increase among men of the same age.
Alizee Froguel from Cancer Research UK, which helped fund the research, emphasized the need for robust measures to prevent smoking uptake and support smoking cessation, citing smoking as the leading cause of cancer and death in the UK.
These findings come amid discussions in the UK Parliament about banning anyone born after 2009 from purchasing cigarettes, a measure aimed at reducing smoking rates in the country.
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