UK smoking rate up in 2015 (allegedly)

Today's You and Yours on Radio 4 was devoted to smoking – well, giving up smoking, to be precise.

The studio guest was Robert West, professor of health psychology at University College London.

Martin Dockrell, formerly of ASH now with Public Health England, also featured. And I made a brief appearance talking about plain packaging.

I've nothing much to say about the programme but one thing did stand out. According to Prof West research suggests that smoking rates in the UK have increased in 2015.

At least, I think that's what he said. (Dockrell sounded a bit sceptical.)

The revelation was based on a study of 20,000 people and while several hypotheses were put forward no-one knew why it had happened or whether it is just a blip.

Presenter Winifred Robinson described it as "worrying" while West said there must be a doubling of effort to reduce smoking rates which, he said, are 22 per cent for men, 17 per cent for women.

Oddly the favoured method seemed to involve family and friends nagging smokers until they quit which suggests the tobacco control movement is running out of ideas.

If you want to listen to the programme click here.

Amused by smoking cessation advice on #youandyours @BBCRadio4 Friends/family telling me to quit just used to make me dig my heels in

— Amy Richards (@39tuesdays) December 31, 2015