Facebook helps users quit smoking

A Facebook application to help people quit smoking has been launched by a charity, to coincide with No Smoking Day today...

Smokers will be able to use a new Facebook application, that launches today on No Smoking Day, developed to help them kick the habit.

One in 12 females in the UK kicked the habit on No Smoking Day in 2009, that's an impressive 366,000 women who took the first step to a healthier life. And now No Smoking Day is hoping that the remaining 4 million female smokers in the UK will also be inspired to quit in 2010.

WeQuit will help people and their friends challenge each other to give up nicotine as well as create rewards for success and forfeits for failure. Quitters will also be able to raise money for charity and track each other's progress by accessing www.WeQuit.co.uk/facebook and adding the application to the social networking site.

The launch is supported by Dragons' Den star Duncan Bannatyne, who is president of national No Smoking Day. He said: ‘We feel that quitting is a challenge that should be inspiring and enjoyable rather than a chore, and it's this attitude that makes WeQuit unique.'

UK figures released by the Office of National Statistics (ONS) show that smoking was most common among 20 to 24-year-olds (30%) in 2008 and least common among those aged 60 or over (13%).

Laura Luxton, spokesperson for No Smoking Day said: ‘By choosing No Smoking Day as their quit date women will be joining millions of others taking the first step. You're four times more likely to succeed in your quit attempt when using an NHS stop smoking service, so visit www.nosmokingday.org.uk to find one in your local area.' CLICK HERE FOR MORE HEALTH NEWS