Disadvantaged teen women may see cigarettes as a status symbol. Cigarettes provide a substitute for a lack of material possessions and make them feel less deprived. Membership on a sport team or in a sports club offers status. Most teenagers perceive athletes to be successful and well liked. Participation in high school athletics may be particularly helpful to improving the status of teenagers girls from minority groups.
Smoking is perceived as an appropriate way to control weight.
Regular physical activity is essential to maintaining a healthy weight. The positive influence on self-esteem of participation in physical activity and sport. Taking Action Smoking, like the choice to be physically active, is the result of a complex mix of broad environmental factors, social pressures and individual experiences. Parents, teachers, coaches and leaders can have an important influence at the individual level. But we must also work together to change inequities in the social and political environments that affect young women's choices.