• Study finds they walk less and lack the motivation to improve their lifestyles
Brazilian researchers discovered that smokers are less physically active and lack motivation.
They also found that people who smoke are more likely to suffer symptoms of anxiety and depression.
Scientists at the State University of Londrina, in Brazil, say their research was the first to show that smokers are less physically active than non-smokers.
They studied 60 smokers and 50 non-smokers and asked them to wear a pedometer for a minimum of 12 hours a day for six days.
The results revealed that the smokers walked less each day and their lung function was reduced – meaning they were less able to exercise.
When they were asked to rate their health-related quality of life, the smokers reported feeling more tired and admitted they lacked the motivation to change their lifestyles.
‘To our knowledge, this is the first study that has demonstrated a reduction in the objectively measured level of physical activity in daily life of adult smokers compared with non-smokers,’ said lead researcher Dr Karina Furlanetto.
‘Besides presenting poorer lung function, exercise capacity, quality of life and symptoms of anxiety and depression, smokers also walked less than non-smokers in daily life.’
