Tobacco Use and Obesity Hit Least Educated, Lowest Income Americans Hardest

Tobacco Use and Obesity Hit Least Educated, Lowest Income Americans Hardest
Monday May 31, 10:00 am ET
American Legacy Foundation(R) calls for equal attention to the 'twin
epidemics'

WASHINGTON, May 31 /PRNewswire/ -- As the nation observes World No Tobacco
Day today, the American Legacy Foundation released a new analysis showing
America's most disadvantaged populations are carrying the burden of two
major public health epidemics -- smoking and obesity. This research,
released on the heels of the Surgeon General's Report on the Health
Consequences of Smoking last week, is a stark reminder that tobacco remains
a public health threat, especially to those with the fewest resources.

Tobacco-related disease is the number-one preventable cause of death in the
United States, killing 440,000 Americans each year and afflicting thousands
of others with heart disease, cancer, emphysema, stroke and other
tobacco-related diseases.

For the American Legacy Foundation analysis, data was taken from the
National Center for Health Statistics, 2002 National Health Interview
Survey -- collected from American men and women aged 18 and older. The
statistics show that smoking and obesity prevalence rates are both
connected to income levels and education. However, there is very little
overlap among smokers and those who are obese.

"Smoking and obesity are both very important public health concerns for our
country," American Legacy Foundation President and CEO Cheryl Healton,
Dr.PH. said. "Obesity is a growing concern, but tobacco remains the
deadliest and costliest health threat to our country. It is important that
we identify resources to help individuals overcome difficulties with each
of these epidemics."

Of those individuals below the poverty level, 34 percent smoke, 27 percent
are obese, and 8 percent are obese and smoke. In comparison, among those
earning four times more than the poverty level, only 18 percent smoke, 21
percent are obese, and 4 percent are obese and smoke.

This new data also illustrates that individuals with lower levels of
education have higher rates of tobacco use and obesity. Specifically, data
show that people with high school general equivalency diplomas, or GEDs,
are nearly four times more likely to use tobacco and much more likely to be
obese than people with a college degree.

The data presented today demonstrates the dire need for resources -- from
quit smoking clinics, to consumer call lines, to effective educational
campaigns -- to be made available for anyone who wants to quit smoking. The
foundation advises individuals who want to quit to make a plan, identify
their triggers, use pharmacotherapy products, and seek social support from
their friends and family.

"It is clear that there is a direct correlation between income levels and
these two health epidemics," Healton said. "Both of these issues are also
costing Americans billions of dollars each year in Medicare and Medicaid.
It is a vicious cycle; those with the fewest resources are the most
affected by these problems."

The American Legacy Foundation is dedicated to building a world where young
people reject tobacco and anyone can quit. Located in Washington, DC, the
foundation develops programs that address the health effects of tobacco use
through grants, technical assistance and training, youth activism,
strategic partnerships, counter-marketing and grass roots marketing
campaigns, public relations and outreach to populations disproportionately
affected by the toll of tobacco. The foundation's national programs include
Circle of Friends(TM), Great Start, a Priority Populations Initiative,
Streetheory and truth®. The foundation was created as a result of the
November 1998 Master Settlement Agreement (MSA) reached between attorneys
general from 46 states and the tobacco industry.

Visit http://www.americanlegacy.org .

Neutron wrote:
Tobacco Use and Obesity Hit Least Educated, Lowest Income
Americans Hardest Monday May 31, 10:00 am ET
American Legacy Foundation(R) calls for equal attention to
the 'twin epidemics'


Interesting but I question their logic regarding the cause and
effect.

BJ

No ****. People who engage in unhealthy behaviors tend to be stupid and
stupid people tend to hold low income jobs. The fatter a person is and the
more they smoke, the more stupid they tend to be.


On 1 Jun 2004, Neutron wrote:

Tobacco Use and Obesity Hit Least Educated, Lowest Income Americans Hardest
Monday May 31, 10:00 am ET
American Legacy Foundation(R) calls for equal attention to the 'twin
epidemics'

WASHINGTON, May 31 /PRNewswire/ -- As the nation observes World No Tobacco
Day today, the American Legacy Foundation released a new analysis showing
America's most disadvantaged populations are carrying the burden of two
major public health epidemics -- smoking and obesity. This research,
released on the heels of the Surgeon General's Report on the Health
Consequences of Smoking last week, is a stark reminder that tobacco remains
a public health threat, especially to those with the fewest resources.

Tobacco-related disease is the number-one preventable cause of death in the
United States, killing 440,000 Americans each year and afflicting thousands
of others with heart disease, cancer, emphysema, stroke and other
tobacco-related diseases.

For the American Legacy Foundation analysis, data was taken from the
National Center for Health Statistics, 2002 National Health Interview
Survey -- collected from American men and women aged 18 and older. The
statistics show that smoking and obesity prevalence rates are both
connected to income levels and education. However, there is very little
overlap among smokers and those who are obese.

"Smoking and obesity are both very important public health concerns for our
country," American Legacy Foundation President and CEO Cheryl Healton,
Dr.PH. said. "Obesity is a growing concern, but tobacco remains the
deadliest and costliest health threat to our country. It is important that
we identify resources to help individuals overcome difficulties with each
of these epidemics."

Of those individuals below the poverty level, 34 percent smoke, 27 percent
are obese, and 8 percent are obese and smoke. In comparison, among those
earning four times more than the poverty level, only 18 percent smoke, 21
percent are obese, and 4 percent are obese and smoke.

This new data also illustrates that individuals with lower levels of
education have higher rates of tobacco use and obesity. Specifically, data
show that people with high school general equivalency diplomas, or GEDs,
are nearly four times more likely to use tobacco and much more likely to be
obese than people with a college degree.

The data presented today demonstrates the dire need for resources -- from
quit smoking clinics, to consumer call lines, to effective educational
campaigns -- to be made available for anyone who wants to quit smoking. The
foundation advises individuals who want to quit to make a plan, identify
their triggers, use pharmacotherapy products, and seek social support from
their friends and family.

"It is clear that there is a direct correlation between income levels and
these two health epidemics," Healton said. "Both of these issues are also
costing Americans billions of dollars each year in Medicare and Medicaid.
It is a vicious cycle; those with the fewest resources are the most
affected by these problems."

The American Legacy Foundation is dedicated to building a world where young
people reject tobacco and anyone can quit. Located in Washington, DC, the
foundation develops programs that address the health effects of tobacco use
through grants, technical assistance and training, youth activism,
strategic partnerships, counter-marketing and grass roots marketing
campaigns, public relations and outreach to populations disproportionately
affected by the toll of tobacco. The foundation's national programs include
Circle of Friends(TM), Great Start, a Priority Populations Initiative,
Streetheory and truth®. The foundation was created as a result of the
November 1998 Master Settlement Agreement (MSA) reached between attorneys
general from 46 states and the tobacco industry.

Visit http://www.americanlegacy.org .

Mako wrote:

No ****. People who engage in unhealthy behaviors tend to be stupid and
stupid people tend to hold low income jobs. The fatter a person is and the
more they smoke, the more stupid they tend to be.

Hey, now! I resemble that remark! I'm obese, I'm a smoker, and I'm
also currently unemployed (by choice, I might add). *However,* I hold
a BS in Bus Admin *and* was the Outstanding Student (highest GPA) for
my graduating class, *and* am in the process of growing my own
business.

So, don't go callin' me stoopid, stoopid! G
========
Disclaimer: the last line in the statement above was intended to be
humorous. You know, like "funny," "ha-ha," etc. (For all the
deederheads out there - you know who you are.)
========
Sh0rtcircuit (Deb)

sh0rtcircuit (Deb) wrote:
Mako wrote:

No ****. People who engage in unhealthy behaviors tend to
be stupid and stupid people tend to hold low income jobs.
The fatter a person is and the more they smoke, the more
stupid they tend to be.

Hey, now! I resemble that remark! I'm obese, I'm a smoker,
and I'm
also currently unemployed (by choice, I might add).
*However,* I hold
a BS in Bus Admin *and* was the Outstanding Student (highest
GPA) for
my graduating class, *and* am in the process of growing my own
business.

So, don't go callin' me stoopid, stoopid! G
========
Disclaimer: the last line in the statement above was intended
to be humorous. You know, like "funny," "ha-ha," etc. (For
all the
deederheads out there - you know who you are.)
========
Sh0rtcircuit (Deb)

humor I have known some very well educated stoopid people. /humor

BJ

On 1 Jun 2004 15:22:23 -0000, Mako wrote:

No ****. People who engage in unhealthy behaviors tend to be stupid and
stupid people tend to hold low income jobs. The fatter a person is and the
more they smoke, the more stupid they tend to be.


So how many packs a day did it take for you to become a
mouth-breathing top poster?



On 1 Jun 2004, Neutron wrote:

Tobacco Use and Obesity Hit Least Educated, Lowest Income Americans Hardest
Monday May 31, 10:00 am ET
American Legacy Foundation(R) calls for equal attention to the 'twin
epidemics'

"BJ in Texas" wrote:



humor I have known some very well educated stoopid people. /humor

BJ

Heh. One in particular comes to mind.
Sh0rtcircuit (Deb)