A fifth of all young smokers are overweight or obese, a major tobacco control conference heard today.
The Children, Youth and Tobacco: Causes, Consequences and Actionconference examined smoking's long-term health consequences and coincided with the first day of the Government ban on the sale of 10 pack cigarettes.
Exercise patterns in young smokers and non-smokers were compared and discussed while the dangers associated with smoking during pregnancy were also highlighted.
"Our research shows that non-smoking young people are significantly fitter than those who smoke," Dublin City University's Dr Catherine Woods said.
"Our findings in relation to participation in athletics reinforce this message. "Male non-athletes were 58 per cent more likely to smoke than athletic counterparts, while female non-athletes were 43 per cent more likely to smoke than their athletic peers," she said.
The conference was chaired by Dr Fenton Howell, Director of Public Health at the Health Service Executive and included twelve expert speakers who travelled from Edinburgh, London, Washington and throughout Ireland to attend the event.
Professor Luke Clancy, Director General of the Research Institute for a Tobacco Free Society explained exposure to cigarette smoke for some children begins in the womb.
"The consequences range from the possibility of stillbirth, to low birth weight, premature delivery, increased risk of serious health problems during the newborn period and may lead to lifelong disabilities," he said. "Clearly, smoking cessation aimed at pregnant women should be increased.
"When exposure continues after birth, the results are also serious, including increased incidence of lower respiratory tract illness such as bronchitis, pneumonia, increased ear infections and a very significant increase in SIDS (sudden infant death syndrome).
"There is also an increased risk of developing asthma, which is a very common and important disease in children." Maurice Mulcahy, Principal Environmental Health Officer with the HSE based in Galway warned many smoking parents may be unwittingly exposing their children to second hand smoke. "Many conscientious smoking parents don't smoke while a child is in the same room as them, however, many have a cigarette when their children are out of the way, such as when they have gone to bed," he said.
"However, adults need to be aware that smoke migrates from one room to the next and can, in fact, affect their children. "We conducted an experiment recently and we established that it took 18 seconds for smoke to get from one room to the next - 18 feet away - after the door was opened. The answer for parents who want to protect their children is clear - either quit smoking or smoke outdoors."
A ban on the sale of packs of 10 cigarettes came into effect from midnight last night, although there will be a period of grace for retailers to get rid of stocks. The Office of Tobacco Control (OTC) said it hopes the measure will discourage young people from smoking.