Smoking and appearance

Abstract

Although smoking is linked with shortness of breath, cardiovascular problems, and increased risk of lung cancer, many men and women smoke and most find it hard to quit. Smoking may be linked (especially for women) with weight concern, and fear of gaining weight may discourage people from giving up smoking. There is also evidence that smoking relates to appearance concern in a broader sense than just in relation to weight control, and that facial wrinkling caused by smoking may be a disincentive for smoking initiation and may act as a motivator for quitting. This chapter provides a brief discussion of incidence of smoking-related health problems, and considers evidence of links between cigarette smoking and body image in studies using a range of different methodologies. Implications of current data for helping people to quit smoking will also be considered, including looking in detail at impacts of interventions designed to change smoking-related attitudes and behaviours, using age-progression facial morphing technology.