Obesity and Smoking

This article compares the public health effort to reduce smoking with reducing the consumption of junk food. No doubt, obesity is a much more complex problem than smoking. The campaign to stop smoking has not been completely successful but it is a good start and the momentum can be helpful to obesity. Both problems will be well served by sustained, comprehensive community efforts. Make no mistake, however, successful programs for smoking and obesity will change the community and the health system in ways we can hardly imagine. I have to believe it can be done. The struggle will be immense and prolonged.