'Very Light' Smoking on Rise Among Young American Women

Researchers have noticed a recent trend with many young American women who opt for 'very light' smoking.

A team of researchers from Carole Holahan of the University of Texas at Austin analysed data from almost 9,800 women between the ages of 18 to 25.

The researchers came to the conclusion that 1 out of every 5 participants in the study were 'very light' smokers. These women typically smoked 5 or fewer cigarettes in a day.

As per the findings, almost 20 percent of women in the study and nearly 60 percent of those currently smoking, were found to be very light smokers.

Among those categorized as very light smokers, 70 percent of them admitted to not smoking every day and this particular group were found to be more likely to have some college education when compared to heavy smokers.

"Health educators and health care providers working with women in emerging adulthood need to recognize the high prevalence of very light smoking in this population, and screen for any level of tobacco use," the researchers, wrote in the July issue of the journal Preventing Chronic Disease.

Researchers believe that smokers in this group are more likely to recognize the serious health issues of smoking while also at the same time, less likely to identify themselves as smokers.

"Making very light smokers aware that even small amounts of tobacco are harmful would be important," study researcher Carole Holahan, of the Department of Kinesiology and Health Education at the University of Texas at Austin, told Live Science.