Smoking and hunger

It has been my experience for many years that tobacco smokers (and others with addictions) will often neglect their own health and welfare to support their habit. A new study shows that the negative effects of this addictive behavior extends to family members, especially children. A study reported in the Archives of Pediatrics & Adolescent Medicine, Vol. 152, No. 11, November 2008 is entitled "Increased Rates and Severity of Child and Adult Food Insecurity in Households With Adult Smokers."

The objective of the study was "to investigate rates and severity of child and adult food insecurity (the inability to access enough food in a socially acceptable way for every day of the year) in households with and without smokers." The study found that:

"Food insecurity was more common and severe in children and adults in households with smokers. Of children in households with smokers, 17.0% were food insecure vs 8.7% in households without smokers (P < .001). Rates of severe child food insecurity were 3.2% vs 0.9% (P < .04), respectively. For adults, 25.7% in households with smokers and 11.6% in households without smokers were food insecure, and rates of severe food insecurity were 11.8% and 3.9%, respectively (P < .003 for each). Food insecurity was higher in low-income compared with higher income homes (P < .01). At multivariate analyses, smoking was independently associated with food insecurity and severe food insecurity in children (adjusted odds ratio, 2.0; 95% confidence interval, 1.5-2.7, and adjusted odds ratio, 3.1; 95% confidence interval, 1.4-6.9, respectively) and adults (adjusted odds ratio, 2.2; 95% confidence interval, 1.6-3.0, and adjusted odds ratio, 2.3; 95% confidence interval, 1.4-3.7, respectively)." The full effects of smoking are summarized in an article from the same journal (Arch Pediatr Adolesc Med. 2008;162(11):1096-1098)which states, in part,:

"Extensive research has documented the harmful impact of smoking on adult and children's health. Smoking causes numerous diseases and harms nearly every organ in the body, while exposure to secondhand smoke causes heart disease and lung cancer in nonsmokers. Maternal smoking during pregnancy increases the likelihood of premature birth, still birth, and low-birth-weight birth, as well as a number of other complications during pregnancy. Infants exposed to secondhand smoke are twice as likely to die of sudden infant death syndrome as those who are not exposed. Secondhand smoke significantly increases children's risk of acute respiratory infections and ear problems and for children with asthma, increases the frequency and severity of asthma attacks. Children's and adolescents' exposure to secondhand smoke is associated with various psychopathologies, including conduct disorder, aggression, and attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder. In addition, tobacco use imposes a substantial economic toll..."

To read these, and other articles see http://archpedi.ama-assn.org/

Almost two hundred years ago, God revealed to Joseph Smith:

And again, tobacco is not for the body, neither for the belly, and is not good for man, but is an herb for bruises and all sick cattle, to be used with judgment and skill. See Doctrine and Covenants, Section 89:8

What a different world we would have if more people would heed the word of God from his Prophets.