Research has shown that children and teens that are more physically active are much less likely to smoke.
"By investing in amateur sport in this province, our government can help develop teenagers and children who are healthier, less likely to smoke, and even get better grades," notes Scott Logan, CEO of Sport Nova Scotia. "Sport Nova Scotia can't find a down side to this strategy. Even our health care system would reap the benefits that result from a healthier society."
Just as the progress report on the government's efforts (recently released by the Canadian Cancer Society, Heart and Stroke Foundation, Lung Association of Nova Scotia, and the Public Health Association of Nova Scotia) stated, Sport Nova Scotia believes education is important. It also agrees that money should be invested in to teaching children and teens to live healthy, smoke-free lives. However, Sport Nova Scotia does not believe that education alone is the answer.
If we want teens to choose to be non-smokers we have to help them create healthy lifestyles where smoking is just not an option.
"Education is certainly an important part of the process. However, most people already know that smoking is not good for them, so it is obvious that we need to do more," says Logan. "We need to help our kids develop lifelong, healthy attitudes. Let's get all of our kids active - regardless of where they live or their parents economic situation- and we will find that smoking is no longer an option that fits in to their lives."
In order to do this, the government would have to make a commitment to amateur sport. Until regular activity is something that all children can access, and afford, it will be difficult to prevent smoking in young people.
Physical activity can prevent many of the factors that often lead to smoking including boredom, poor social interaction, and body image issues (the major reason that many young girls start smoking).
Just a few facts about smoking and physical activity are:
