UK Office for National Statistics smoking rate reports

UCL Study: Each Cigarette Cuts Life Expectancy by 20 Minutes, Quitting Offers Significant Benefits

Dec 30, 2024, 12:15 PM

A new study from University College London (UCL), commissioned by the UK's Department of Health and Social Care, has revealed that smoking is more harmful than previously estimated, with each cigarette reducing life expectancy by an average of 20 minutes. The research indicates that men lose approximately 17 minutes and women lose about 22 minutes of life per cigarette. The study suggests that quitting smoking can significantly extend life expectancy, with smokers who quit on January 1 potentially preventing the loss of a full day of life by January 8. By February 20, those who quit could regain a week of life, and by the end of the year, they could avoid losing 50 days of life. The findings underscore the importance of quitting smoking, especially in light of the recent Tobacco and Vapes Bill aimed at creating a smoke-free generation in the UK.