Cigarette use during adolescence: effects on nutritional status.

Despite numerous anti-tobacco campaigns, smoking among adolescents continues to be a predominant public health issue. This report details the interrelationships between adolescence, smoking, and nutrition and health. Current data indicate that most smokers become nicotine-dependent as adolescents, which places them at risk for chronic diseases associated with continuous oxidative damage. Additionally, nicotine has antidepressant and hypermetabolic effects, which may be of particular importance during adolescence because nicotine use leads to increased dependence on tobacco, contributes to difficulty in smoking cessation, and promotes weight gain following smoking cessation.