VCU study finds teenage girls who smoke tend to avoid healthy foods

By Michael Ford
University News Services

RICHMOND, Va. – Teenage girls who risk their health by smoking may be increasing their overall health risks further by avoiding healthy foods, according to a new study from Virginia Commonwealth University.

The VCU study, published in the May issue of the American Journal of Preventive Medicine, examined the relationship between smoking and the consumption of fruits, vegetables and milk in African-American, Caucasian and Hispanic teen girls. The study’s lead investigator, Diane Baer Wilson, Ed.D., R.D., associate professor of preventive medicine and community health in VCU’s School of Medicine and a cancer prevention research investigator at VCU’s Massey Cancer Center, assessed data on more than 7,000 female teens in grades nine through 12 collected by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. She found that among Caucasian girls in the study, the more they smoked, the less likely they were to consume fruit, fruit juice, vegetables and milk.

"Previous studies have shown that adults who smoke tend to consume fewer healthy foods compared to non-smokers," said Wilson. "This is the first study to make the link among girls in their teen years, when nutrients in these foods are essential for normal growth and chronic disease prevention."

The study revealed differences among the three ethnic groups surveyed. When comparing smokers with non-smokers, Caucasian girls who smoked were significantly less likely to consume fruits, vegetables and milk compared to those who didn’t smoke. The disparity was less, but still present, in a similar comparison of Hispanic girls. However, African-American girls who smoked were more likely to consume the surveyed foods than non-smokers, but this was not statistically significant.

"By not eating healthy foods and missing the protective nutrients they offer, these young women are actually more vulnerable to the serious health consequences of smoking," said Wilson. "The study results underscore a need to educate teen girls about the importance of eating the maximum serving of fruits and vegetables and dairy products such as milk, particularly if they smoke or are at risk for starting to smoke."

Wilson conducted the study with co-investigator Paul M. Nietert, Ph.D., research associate at the Medical University of South Carolina’s Center for Health Care Research.