A recent study challenged an enduring belief that women were less successful than men in quitting smoking.
The study, published in the journal Tobacco Control, found convincing evidence that across all of the age
groups, “there [is] relatively little difference in cessation between the sexes.” The researchers used data from
major national surveys in the United States, Canada, and England to approximate the rates of smoking cessation
by age in men and women. They did find a pattern of sex differences in smoking cessation which was consistent
across all surveyed countries. According to the study, “below age 50, women were more likely to have given up
smoking completely compared to men, while among older age groups, men were more likely to have quit than
women.” Different age groups had sex differences in smoking cessation but the authors are not sure what
accounted for the finding.
This most recent study is the largest epidemiological study to date, and the authors have found no solid
evidence to support the longstanding claims that smoking cessation is more difficult for women. According to
the study, “The myth of female disadvantage at quitting smoking is bad, first and foremost, for women,”
because they may get discouraged quickly and end their efforts prematurely. But the authors also expressed that
it is detrimental for men who may think they are at an advantage and then not put forth the proper effort to end
their smoking habit. The study claims, “it is time to put aside the idea that women are less successful than men
at giving up smoking.”
Despite the findings of this new study, the difficulty of smoking cessation based on sex should not be
discounted. According to several studies, women experience more severe withdrawal symptoms than men when
quitting smoking, which can make the act of quitting much harder and more uncomfortable for women. In
addition, women are less likely than men to benefit from nicotine replacement therapies, which also contribute
to the difficulty some of them experience when trying to quit.
Kicking the smoking habit is the most important step a smoker can take to improve the length and quality of
his or her life. There are an abundance of options available to help both men and women quit their nicotine
addictions. It is also important to note that women who quit smoking relapse for different reasons than men.
Weight control, stress, and negative emotions are all reasons cited by women who have relapsed and these
issues need to be taken into account for any successful cessation program.
While it is important to note that the majority of tobacco smokers quit on their own without using evidencebased
cessation treatments, some effective methods to do so recommended by CDC for women are: proper
weight management, emotional and psychological support should also be applied to cessation efforts and can
facilitate a smoke-free lifestyle long-term. Whether male or female, smoking cessation is a challenge, but one
that can be overcome and lead to tremendous improvement in one’s quality of life and overall health.
(Extraído de: <http://www.womenshealthresearch.org/site/News2?page=NewsArticle&id=13593>)
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