Effect of Smoking on Nutrition and Food Intake Office Goers

Abstract

Background and Aim: In 2023, an estimated 266 million adults aged 15 years and older in India are tobacco product users. This positions India as the 2nd globally and 1st WHO South East Asia Region (SEAR) in terms of the number of tobacco users. More than 8 million dies from tobacco use every year The WHO estimates that more than 8 million people die prematurely yearly from tobacco use. This is the latest available WHO estimate as of November 2023.

Methodology: The study was conducted in Gurgaon corporate offices, offices were randomly selected. Total 240 sample size selected 180 sample smokers (experimental group) and 60 sample non-smokers control group selected. The statistical tools were used SD (Standard Deviation), co-relation and mean score.

Results and conclusion: Present study revealed that smokers start their journey in their adolescence period or early. Group acceptance and peer group approval is the main core cause to drove them into smoking. Most of them smoked at office to release mental tensions and make them ease. Though stress levels. Tension, illness was heightened than the counter group (non-smoker group) of study. Worries and status symbol are also the cause of smoking and strived into chain smoking. Smoking also impacted negatively on the health and nutrition status of individual. It over burdens the monthly budget also as it increases their monthly medical expenditures. Smokers usually suffering with respiratory, cough, cold, asthma, emphysema, lung cancer and heart problems. Smoking is anyways not good for the environment as passive smoking is more deleterious for the kids and old people because smoke contain many harmful compounds which give negative effect on children’s health. Red flags of smoker’s health are hypertension, high pulse rate compared to them controlled group. Oral health including buccal mucosa and teeth were highly impacted. In the present study it was concluded that controlled and uncontrolled groups both were on unbalanced diet. Both the groups were having unhealthy calories. They were consuming inadequate number of calories, less protein, iron and high amount of saturated fat and calcium. Both the groups were having less vitamin c and carotene.

Keywords: Nutrition; Food; Office goers; Smoking effects; Saturated fat; Oral health