TUESDAY, Nov. 29 (HealthDay News) -- Smoking in early adolescence is associated with retarded physical growth in girls, according to a study published in the November issue of the Journal of Adolescent Health.
Eric Stice, Ph.D., and Erin E. Martinez, B.A., of the University of Texas at Austin, analyzed survey data from 496 girls aged 11 to 15 who were recruited through public and private schools. The authors gathered data on the girls' weight and height annually over a three-year period.
A total of 403 (81%) girls reported that they had not smoked in the past year; 37 (7%) reported smoking on a less-than-daily basis; and 53 (11%) reported daily smoking.
Compared with non-smokers, persistent adolescent smokers had reduced height, weight and body mass index (BMI). Starting smoking was associated with reduced weight and BMI but was not associated with height. Smoking cessation resulted in increased weight and BMI, but did not affect height. The effects on growth were dose-related in terms of initial smoking quantity and frequency.
"Collectively, the findings provide support for the assertion that smoking in early adolescence results in retarded physical development," the authors conclude.
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