Smoking Mothers Bear Babies 100g+ Meager

A rather shocking report from the Environment Agency - smoking mothers give birth babies average 100+ grams lighter than from nonsmoking mothers, January 6.

The data were compiled by Yamanashi University based on a total of 9000 babies across the nation - the first of its kind ever done nationwide.

Smoking during pregnancy is said to hinder passage of oxygen and nutrition to the embryo and eventually its growth. Prof. Zentaro Yamagata comments:

"The light the weight, the higher the risk of heart disease. Mothers should stop smoking at the first sign of pregnancy to minimize adverse effects".

The survey analyzed data of 9369 babies, male and female, family financial conditions, mothers' weights, and all relevant factors contributing to the babies' birth time weights. 

Meanwhile, the Ministry of Welfare announced January 4 an approach to include in the healthcare program the treatment of nicotine addicts with a view to making it easier for young smokers to quit smoking and to attempting eventually to check medical cost.

Antismoking treatment was first covered in 2006 but most beneficiaries were aged smokers. The ministry's new approach targets young smokers with fewer years of smoking,

The Ministry also barred the outcome of a survey on smoking done in 2014. The data say the ratio of smokers rose slightly by 0.3 % over the previous year but 30% of smokers want to quit smoking. 

The survey was done in November 2014 based on 7600 respondents from 5400 households. Of 3560 men 32.2% were smokers and 8.5% of some 4000 women smoked - men leveled off and women rose by 0.3%.

Smoking is on the whole much better disciplined over the years in Japan. Most hospitals are smoke-free; so are the station platforms. Quality restaurants discriminate smoking chambers away from non-smoking tables.

News Source: Sankei Shinbum