Smoking is more common in Bangladeshi men

Manly images in Bollywood films may be fuelling the smoking epidemic among South Asian men in the UK, a new report has claimed.

The find was made by a cancer specialist in Newcastle, in a study funded by Cancer Research UK and the Department of Health.

Dr White, a Cancer Research UK scientist believes understanding the factors behind smoking in South Asian men will be crucial in helping prevent the habit.

Smoking is more common in Bangladeshi men than in any other ethnic group in the UK.

Dr White, based at Newcastle Univerisity said: "Cancers of the trachea, lung and bronchus are the commonest cause of cancer deaths among South Asian men living in Britain.

'Culturally sensitive'

"Around half the UK's Bangladeshi men smoke cigarettes.

"When compared with their white counterparts, Bangladeshi men have a 20% higher rate of smoking.

"In public health terms it is vital we understand why so many more of these men smoke and develop culturally sensitive ways to work with this community."

Over two years, around 140 Bangladeshi and Pakistani male and female, smokers and non-smokers, whose ages ranged from 19 to 80, took part in the project.

Researchers found smoking was a strong part of social acceptance, bonding and identity in South Asian men.

'Handsome hero'

This idea was reinforced by fashionable images of smoking in Indian films and popular media.

In contrast, it was not considered acceptable for South Asian women to smoke and many believed it was shameful and disrespectful.

Dr White says: "Bollywood films, which are popular among the UK's South Asians, often show their leading men with a cigarette in their hand as did the Hollywood films of the forties and fifties.

"If the handsome hero is the one seen lighting up in these films, it gives smoking a positive image - and one that can affect those watching."