Media’s Impact on Cigarette Smoking

A German study of kids (mean age 12.3 years) has found that for every 10 viewings of tobacco ads their risk of smoking increased by almost 40% (P<0.001), and this same exposure increased risk of being daily smokers by nearly one-third. Those who saw the most tobacco ads were twice as likely to start and keep smoking. Viewing non-tobacco ads did not impact smoking risk.

PositiveTip: Limiting exposure to TV ads for unhealthful behaviors could yield large dividends for teens (and probably for adults, too).