E-cigarette Use Higher Among Active Georgia Student Athletes: Study

A recent study has found that student athletes in the state of Georgia have a higher rate of using e-cigarettes compared to less active students. This may be due to peer pressure and misconceptions about health risks.

A study by the University of Georgia found that students who exercise four to five days per week are 23% more likely to use e-cigarettes than those who exercise one day per week or less. About 7% of high school students in Georgia use e-cigarettes.

The lead author of the study, Janani Rajbhandari-Thapa, who is also an associate professor at the College of Public Health at UGA, stated in a release that 'our young people often fall within a healthy range when it comes to physical health, but their risk increases with the use of e-cigarettes.'

He and his team believe that due to the expansion of social networks, health-conscious athletes may face greater peer pressure when using these products. They may be more susceptible to this pressure because they believe it will not harm them. Researchers found that athletes are less likely to smoke traditional cigarettes compared to less active children, but are more likely to use e-cigarettes.

A study suggests that the potential influence of peers, coupled with misconceptions among adolescents about the safety of energy drinks, may increase the risk of athletes consuming energy drinks.

Other researchers have discovered that electronic cigarette products may contain benzene, which is found in car exhaust fumes. The flavorings in electronic cigarettes are also linked to lung diseases.

Many adult smokers have turned to vaping, believing it to be healthier than traditional cigarettes.

The University of Georgia conducted a study using survey responses from over 362,000 students at 439 high schools in Georgia that were collected in the Georgia Department of Education's 2018 "Student Health Survey 2.0." The survey results represent responses from three-fourths of high school students in the state.

This is the first study of its kind in the United States, but Canadian researchers have reported similar findings among high school students there. The study was published in a peer-reviewed medical journal, Nicotine & Tobacco Research, in 2019, and found that boys were more likely than girls to use e-cigarettes, consistent with results from Georgia.

Researchers in Canada have also discovered that boys tend to be more active than girls and have added, "Male e-cigarette users may perceive the health risks associated with e-cigarettes to be lower and may represent a high-risk group for public health stakeholders to consider.

Two studies indicate the need for policymakers to provide information on health risks for this population.

Statement:

This article is compiled from third-party information and is only intended for industry professionals to exchange and learn from.

This article does not represent the views of 2FIRSTS and 2FIRSTS cannot confirm the authenticity or accuracy of its content. The article is solely compiled for communication and research within the industry.

Due to limitations in the translation skills, the translated article may not fully express the original meaning. Please refer to the original article for accuracy.

2FIRSTS holds identical views with the Chinese government on any domestic, Hong Kong, Macao, Taiwan, or overseas-related statements and positions.

The copyright of the compiled information belongs to the original media and the author. If there is any infringement, please contact us for deletion.