New York City residents are growing obese at a rate nearly three times that of other Americans, prompting some who cited a link between weight gain and smoking cessation to question whether the city's crackdown on smoking may have had an unexpected result.
In a new study, city health officials found that obesity and diabetes rates here increased 17% between 2002 and 2004. By contrast, there was a 6% increase in national obesity rates during that time, and no significant increase in the rate of diabetes. City residents also gained 10 million pounds collectively during the two-year period, researchers found. The findings were reported in the April issue of the journal Preventing Chronic Disease.
While public health officials said the findings underscored the need for disease prevention programs, others drew a correlation between the rising obesity rate and a smoking ban that took effect in the city's bars and restaurants in 2003. According to city health officials, about 240,000 New Yorkers quit smoking since the agency launched a comprehensive anti smoking campaign in 2002.
Weight gain among individuals who quit smoking has been well documented. According to one study that evaluated weight gain after smoking cessation, researchers found the risk of weight gain is highest during the two years after a person quits. The study, published in 1998 in the Journal of Family Practice, found that on average, those who quit gain between 11 and 13 pounds....................
these smoking bans are just crazy, and i don't even smoke. they loose business, or businesses shut down. that looses tax revenue, which hurts the cites. then you get grumpy people all over the city itching to smoke. to top it all off if they do decide to get they gain more weight, and with obesity being such an epidemic in this country, it just is crazy. anyone know what's more costly the affects of smoking vs obesity and the problems that go along with it?
I had the stats on that at one time, have to find them again (and will). But obese people cost far more than smokers in health costs. Of course, insurance companies charge more for smokers than overweight people still - but smokers still cost less.
i figured that was the case, thanks starling. :)
seems to me it's more pc for ins companies to charge more for smokers than obese people, especially with all the not my fault studies out there.
Many places here in Ohio have closed, and many of those who didn't are struggling to keep their doors open. But those people who probably never frequented those places in the past can live with the satisfying knowledge that nobody is enjoying a cigarette at some place they'll never go.
Mr. Darkseid .
Cute mouse.
Hey - another unnecessary health care problem that was artificially created by the few dictating to the many, but at least we can all rest easy now that the special interests of a few controlling type personalities have been satisfied.
Starling see if you can find those numbers will ya'?