Tasty flavours entice young people to try e-cigarettes, getting them hooked on what can become a lifetime habit, a new study shows.

“Children and youth prefer sweet flavours. We know that flavours increase appeal to young or inexperienced users,” said lead researcher Andrea Villanti, an associate professor with the University of Vermont’s Center on Behavior and Health. “Something that tastes like candy is more palatable to a young person than tobacco flavour on its own.”

Only tobacco and menthol flavours

Her team found that young people who first try a flavoured vape, cigar or smokeless tobacco are much more likely to still be using that product a year later.

For example, twice as many kids and young adults who first try a flavoured e-cigarette will still be vaping a year later, compared with those who first try a tobacco-flavoured vape, the study found.

The results support recent efforts by the Trump administration and some states to ban flavoured e-cigarettes.

In response to growing pressure, e-cigarette maker Juul announced last week that it would suspend sales of all flavoured pods for its vaping device. Only tobacco and menthol flavours will remain on the market, pending review by the US Food and Drug Administration.

But Villanti noted that the problem extends far beyond vaping.

“E-cigarettes are getting a lot of attention right now, and they also have a lot of flavours, but this is a problem we have across all product categories,” Villanti said. “It’s not just an e-cigarette issue.”

Ongoing federally funded study

Regulations against flavourings in tobacco products remain weak, Villanti said. Cigarettes are the only tobacco product in which flavours are banned, although menthol cigarettes have been allowed to remain on the market.

To see whether flavours attract young people to tobacco and then help keep them using, Villanti and her team used data from an ongoing federally funded study that tracks tobacco use in the United States.

The researchers assessed data collected in 2013–2014 to see whether people are more likely to first try a flavoured e-cigarette or other tobacco product. They then looked at data gathered a year later to see if those who first tried a flavoured product were still using tobacco.

Seven out of 10 kids who were new users of tobacco first tried a flavoured product, as well as more than half of young adults, researchers found.

Those young adults who started with a flavoured product were more likely to stick with it, data from the second wave revealed. Current daily users included:

• Twice as many first-time users of flavoured e-cigarettes or pipe tobacco
• Three and a half times as many filtered cigar users
• Twice as many hookah tobacco users
• Half again as many users of cigarillos, cigars or smokeless tobacco

Even more compelling data

“If you’re younger than 25, the first product you probably use is flavoured and you’re more likely to continue to use tobacco products if you’re introduced to a flavoured product first,” said Dr Jamie Rutland, who reviewed the study. He’s an assistant clinical professor of pulmonology and critical care at the University of California, Riverside.

Adults also were more likely to keep using a tobacco product if they first tried a flavoured version, the study showed.

The new study “confirms what everybody already thought,” Rutland said, adding that flavours have contributed to the recent boom in vaping.

“This was a study done five years ago, when they collected the data,” noted Rutland, an American Lung Association national spokesman. “I think the data, if they collected it now, would be even more compelling.”

The new study was published in the journal JAMA Network Open.

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HealthDay

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You probably already realise that adding zucchini or carrots to a cake won’t magically make it low calorie or healthy. But you might not realise that there are many foods that sound healthy but really aren’t.

It might seem as though bran muffins are the perfect way to get needed fibre, but the 3g in an average bakery offering don’t justify all the white flour, sugar, fat and calories that go along with it. A better breakfast is to mix two tablespoons of wheat bran into hot, steel-cut oatmeal and top it with a handful of raisins.

Laden with salt

Sushi sounds like a great way to enjoy fish, but the ratio of fish to rice – usually white rice – makes the protein portion minuscule (and, ounce for ounce, extremely expensive). Opt for sashimi instead, which is simply slices of raw fish, or ask for brown rice in your rolls. Also, watch the soy sauce – it’s laden with salt – and limit mayonnaise-based spicy sauces that accompany many fancy rolls.

What could be bad about hazelnut and dark chocolate spreads? The problem is that sugar and palm oil are the first two ingredients in many popular store brands. If you love the flavour, dip whole roasted hazelnuts into melted dark chocolate as a treat, or whip up your own spread by blending freshly roasted hazelnuts in a food processor until a paste forms and then folding it into melted chocolate.

Beet and carrot chips sound yummy and should be low-calorie, right? Be aware that vegetable alternatives to potato chips still get more than half their calories from oil. One ounce has the same calories as a 6-ounce sweet potato, but few of the potato’s nutrients. If you want a veggie crunch, oven-bake very thin slices of your favourite vegetables.

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HealthDay

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Dr Artur Carvalho is accused of negligence in the case of baby Rodrigo and others.

Yolandi Stegmann found herself at the lowest point of her existence at the end of last year. As a self-admitted emotional-eater, she decided that instead of turning to her usual crutch, she’d turn to exercise as a coping mechanism. “Whilst it started out as a desperate distraction, little did I know I had embarked on a [fitness] journey of self-discovery, healing, and growth,” she recalls.

Here’s how it went.

Yolandi Stegmann

• Occupation: Lead payroll
• Age: 35
• City: Cape Town
• Weight before: 86kg
• Weight after: 73kg
• Height: 1,76m
• The time required to reach current weight: 10 months
• The secret weapon to her weight loss: Every day is a new opportunity

The Gain

“My weight has always fluctuated,” Yolandi admits. When she did reach a goal weight, it was always a struggle to maintain it. “I ate a lot of junk food, mostly takeout, and I was an emotional eater.” Along with this, she would also enjoy several glasses of red wine — by several, we’re talking occasionally the whole bottle with a meal.

“I was very inactive during this period, your typical couch potato,” Yolandi continues. While she enjoyed hiking, she often felt self-conscious and uncomfortable. “I suffer from depression and anxiety,” she adds, noting that she often had to deal with feelings of not even wanting to get out of bed. “I finally reached a point where I’d stare at myself in the mirror wondering how I had gotten to this point.”

READ MORE: “Getting To Grips With My Emotional Eating Habit Helped Me Lose 28 Kgs — And Now I’m A Personal Trainer”

The Change

In December 2018, Yolandi went through a breakup that left her at the lowest point of her existence. “I turned to exercise as a way of processing this pain and rejection,” she explains. “I hated the way I looked. There was no self-love and I had zero self-confidence.” It was time for a change, she just wasn’t sure what or how yet.

“I wanted to incorporate regular exercise into my life,” Yolandi says. The gym environment didn’t appeal to her, but rather she opted for excising out in the fresh air. Enter ABC Bootcamp. “Joining a group would add accountability and having a personal trainer would provide direction and structure.”

When it came to food, Yolandi didn’t follow a specific diet or restrict her eating in any major way. “For me, it was imperative to implement permanent changes,” she explains. “I focused on improving my relationship with food and making healthier choices across the board.”

READ MORE: 5 Mindful Eating Tips That Will Change Your Relationship With Food

The Lifestyle

“During the first few months of ABC Bootcamp, my diet didn’t change that much,” Yolandi admits. “I cultivated healthier habits such as not skipping any meals, increasing my protein, drinking more water and choosing my carbs wisely.” And while she adds that she does still enjoy the occasional glass of red, she’s definitely cut back.

ABC Bootcamp consists of short-distance running, weight training, obstacle courses, core training, circuit training, and jump rope. “For the first few camps, I trained for a minimum of three times a week,” Yolandi adds. While it was a hard routine to stick to in the beginning, the girls at ABC would help to keep her motivated and committed.

The Rewards

“It took a while for me to see the kilos come off since I made gradual changes,” she continues. “But once I physically started to feel better, it became easier to stick to [this fitness journey].” After a few months, Yolandi started to notice the kilos coming off. “Once people started noticing a difference, for instance, the girls at camp, they started commenting, and this just motivated me to keep pushing,” she continues.

It was more than just a healthy eating and fitness journey for Yolandi. “It was also the emotional struggle that I had to overcome.” And the rewards were so worth it. “For the first time in years I am no longer self-conscious about my body,” she says. “I feel much healthier, more energetic and I am less easily fatigued.” She also completed the 40-day challenge at ABC Bootcamp which was a big achievement for her. Plus, it’s alleviated her depression and anxiety.

Yolandi’s Tips

• Every day is a new beginning. If you weren’t happy with yesterday, try something different today. Get rid of that mindset that you’ll start tomorrow. Don’t set yourself up to fail — be realistic, and remember that something is always better than nothing.
• Do NOT compare yourself to anyone else. Your journey is your journey so progress at your own pace. The only healthy and worthwhile comparison is you yesterday versus you today. Focus on your own goals and accomplishments and if you must compete, compete with yourself.
• Surround yourself with people who are going to motivate and inspire you. You need support and encouragement so surround yourself with friends and family that will keep you motivated and accountable. Especially on those days where you just want to give up.

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Cally Silberbauer