Ardi Rizal overcomes childhood nicotine addiction and obesity

Ardi Rizal, an Indonesian boy who gained international attention in 2010 for smoking up to 40 cigarettes a day at the age of two, has successfully overcome his nicotine addiction and obesity.

Originating from a village in southern Sumatra, Rizal's extreme dependence began after being offered his first cigarette by his father. The situation led to intervention by Indonesia's Ministry of Women Empowerment and Child Protection. To address the addiction, Rizal underwent multidisciplinary treatment starting in 2013 under the supervision of child psychologist Seto Mulyadi.

The rehabilitation process presented secondary challenges; the anxiety from nicotine withdrawal led to excessive food consumption, resulting in severe overweight issues by age five. However, through school-age guidance and nutritional adjustments, Rizal achieved a healthy lifestyle. He now participates in interviews to raise awareness about the dangers of early tobacco use.