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Disposable vapes ban ‘could lead to relapse in people trying to quit smoking’
A ban on disposable vapes could discourage the use of e-cigarettes among people who are trying to quit smoking, research has found.
The government is considering a ban over concerns that children are using the products and becoming addicted. However, a study by academics at University College London and funded by Cancer Research UK has found it would also affect 2.6 million adults across Great Britain, 1.2 million of whom smoke and a further 744,000 who have previously.
The researchers said that although preventing the uptake of vaping by children and those who have never smoked was a “public health priority”, the ban may inadvertently discourage the use of e-cigarettes among people who are trying to quit smoking. The study said: “Vaping is substantially less harmful than smoking, so it is essential that a ban on disposables does not discourage people who smoke from switching to vaping.”
Dr Sarah Jackson of UCL’s Institute of Epidemiology and Health Care, and the lead author of the study, said: “Our study suggests a ban on disposable e-cigarettes would affect an estimated 2.6 million people in England, Wales and Scotland.”
“While banning disposables might seem like a straightforward solution to reduce youth vaping, it could have substantial unintended consequences for people who smoke.”
“In the event of a ban, it would be important to encourage current and ex-smokers who use disposables to switch to other types of e-cigarettes rather than going back to just smoking tobacco.”
Prof Jamie Brown, the senior author of the study, said: “There is a need for action to reduce disposable vaping among young people who have never smoked. However, trade-offs need to be carefully considered. A ban may discourage use of e-cigarettes among people trying to quit smoking and may induce relapse among those who have already used disposables to quit.
“Cigarettes are far more harmful to our health and are not currently banned, and a ban on disposable e-cigarettes may signal to large numbers of people that these products are worse for our health or that their harm is comparable to that caused by smoking tobacco.”
Source: The Guardian, 24 January 2024
See also: UCL Press Release “Ban on disposable vapes would affect one in seven young adults” the press release confirms “Use among people who had never regularly smoked was relatively rare (1.5%) but was higher among 18- to 24-year-olds, of whom 7.1% used disposable e-cigarettes and had never regularly smoked tobacco.”
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Child obesity in pandemic could have lifelong effects, study says
Tens of thousands of children who became overweight or obese during the pandemic could face "lifelong health consequences", researchers say.
Obesity rates rose sharply among 10 and 11-year-olds in England and have not returned to pre-pandemic levels.
Measures aimed at children under five are now needed to tackle childhood obesity, the researchers warn.
A prolonged absence from school, a lack of physical activity and unhealthy eating habits have been blamed for rising obesity levels in children during periods of Covid restrictions.
Between 2019-2020 and 2020-2021, the proportion of overweight and obese Year 6 primary school children, aged between 10 and 11, went from 35.2% to 40.9%, with people from deprived areas disproportionately affected.
Based on existing data linking childhood obesity to adolescent and adult obesity, they conclude that many of those children are at greater risk of developing conditions such as diabetes, strokes, arthritis and some types of cancer.
"What the data shows is that the pandemic is likely to have lasting effects on physical health in the children," Prof Keith Godfrey, the report's lead author, said.
The researchers say measures to tackle childhood obesity aimed at pre-school children are needed and are likely to be more effective than measures focused on older children.
"At the moment the interventions largely centre around a sugar tax, which has probably been effective to a degree, but it needs a much wider engagement."
Changes to certain food placements in shops, a ban on fast food stores next to schools, and increased priority of physical activity in nurseries and pre-schools should be introduced into new policies, Prof Godfrey told the BBC.
He said government funding was needed to narrow the gap in health outcomes between advantaged and disadvantaged people.
The researchers also used economic data to conclude additional people living with obesity as a result of the pandemic could eventually cost the UK economy more than £8bn in total, including £800m in healthcare costs.
"Given that the current epidemic of childhood obesity has yet to completely play out into adulthood, there are concerns that productivity actually might worsen as a consequence of this rise," Prof Godfrey said.
Source: BBC News, 24 January 2024
See also: Projected health and economic effects of the increase in childhood obesity during the COVID-19 pandemic in England: The potential cost of inaction
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