Smoking has health hazards and everyone knows it, but it also has diverse effects on the IQ level of a person, it was revealed by one recent study. According to this study an average young man who smokes is most likely to have lower IQ levels than his non-smoking peers. The study further revealed that whereas the average IQ of a non-smoker was about 101, it was 94 for a smoker.

The study was carried out on young Israeli army men in the age group of 18-21 years by Prof. Mark Weiser of Tel Aviv University Department of Psychiatry and the Sheba Medical Center at Tel Hashomer Hospital. The study was based on the data from over 20,000 men before, during or after their time in the military services. This sample included 3 % men who were ex-smokers, 28% smoked one or more cigarettes a day and 68% were non-smokers.

The study further revealed that though the IQ levels of the smokers was lower than the non-smokers, yet their IQs were within the average limit. It also suggested that the lower IQ people are prone to smoking addiction although physically they were considered fit and in good health as displayed by their pre-screenings for army enrollment.

The lower IQ level also is suggestive of the fact that such persons display a poor decision making power. Apart from this the sample displaying poor IQ was more likely to suffer from problems like obesity, narcotics and health and nutrition. Prof. Weiser said, “These samples are more likely to have obesity, nutrition and narcotics issues. Our study adds to the evidence of this growing body of research, and it may help parents and health professionals help at-risk young people make better choices.”

The study was reported in a recent version of journal Addiction. It also states that there is a general stigma attached to smokers as that portion of population which belong to lower socio-economic background and who have been not properly educated. But the study denies any such relation of the smokers to their socio-economic condition. “But because our study included subjects with diverse socio-economic backgrounds we’ve been able to rule out socio-economics as a major factor,” said Prof. Weiser.