 News
24th September 2008
Exercise can help pregnant women stop smokingTaking
regular exercise can help pregnant women stop smoking, researchers said today.
Two studies showed a quarter of women who exercised regularly while expecting
a baby managed to quit smoking. The British scientists said the quitting
rate was about the same as for people who use nicotine replacement. 'Our
findings suggest that a physical activity intervention is feasible and acceptable
as an aid to smoking cessation during pregnancy,' Michael Ussher from St. George's
University of London, wrote in the journal BMC Health. Nicotine - one of
the most addictive substances known - can lead to lower birth weight, higher infant
mortality and is linked to learning difficulties and health problems in childhood.
An estimated 17 per cent of British women and 20 per cent of women in the
United States say they smoke during pregnancy, the researchers said. Nicotine
patches are a popular method to help smokers to quit, but there are worries they
may harm the foetus, leaving exercise as a healthy alternative for pregnant women,
the researchers said. The two pilot studies included women over 18 who
smoked at least one cigarette a day and were 12 to 20 weeks into their pregnancy.
In one trial, women exercised under supervision once a week for six weeks
while in the other they worked out twice a week for the same length of time and
then once weekly for three weeks. All received counselling and help to
stop smoking. The women exercised at a moderate pace and the main activity
was walking, the researchers said. A quarter of the 32 women gave up smoking
before giving birth, the studies found. The researchers, who are now conducting
a larger trial of more than 850 women, did not say why exercise appears to make
a difference but previous research has linked physical activity to reduced cravings
during pregnancy. 'Regular exercise is ideal for any pregnant women who
smoke as it's obviously safe and the benefits are enormous,' Ussher said.
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