Dr. Sarah Jackson, the lead author from UCL’s Institute of Epidemiology and Health Care, has expressed concern about the increasing prevalence of smoking among more advantaged women aged 18 to 45 years old. 

She highlights the importance of targeted interventions to prevent smoking initiation or relapse in this specific group. Additionally, Dr. Jackson emphasises that reducing smoking is critical for women in the 18 to 45 age range, as it directly impacts fertility and raises the risk of complications during pregnancy, miscarriage, and infant health issues.

The research, which was conducted over 10 years, found the percentage of women in the more advantaged social groups (ages 18 to 45) who smoked rose from 12% to 15% between 2013 and 2023.

In contrast, less advantaged women of the same age group saw their smoking rates decline steadily during the same period, from 29% to 22%.

It’s worth stating that among adults overall, smoking has declined over the 10-year period, although this decline flattened during the pandemic.