Why do smokers get the breaks??

I think it is because smoking has been recognized as an addiction, where obesity has not, more and more research is coming out that obesity is a disease but most people still think just stop stuffing your face and you will not have problems, it is not fair but such is life and I don't see it changes very soon.

I am a smoker, but I will try to make my opinion as unbiased as possible. I think both programs should be available. Most of the reason why some people are obese is that junk food is immensely cheaper than foods that are healthy for you. However, I believe that the government in New York is giving assistance to smokers, is that smoking is a disease that not only affect the smoker and the families health, but everyone who is around him/her in society. Although there are dire health risks with obesity as well, the reach of the health effects is not as wide.

I am not sure about New York. In Texas, there is no place that gives anything to smokers. Someone with a weight problem is more likely to receive help here, than a smoker. Smokers, are not looked good upon by the next person, so i guess that really would depend on where you live.

As a taxpayer I don't have a problem helping smokers quit, partly because I think it is the right thing to do morally, but also for the longterm economic effect on the health care system. It would seem to me that the same arguments apply to helping people lose weight. I have only recently begun to struggle with my weight but I know it would be nice to have a free program to give people a boost. It took a long time for smoking to be considered bad for the entire health care system and hopefully it will not be much longer until obesity gets the same treatment.

I know a girl who was apart of the program the state (?) provides to quit smoking, you going to counseling session they give you prescription for pills that are supposed to curb your craving but as soon as you stop taking them you crave again, she is smoking again after a month of stopping.

Smokers get better treatment??? It may be more where I am, up in Canada, but smokers are constantly insulted for what they do. They disgust people all around them when those other people see their addiction to the chemicals, and while getting this bad treatment, and harming themselves by smoking, they're chemically addicted to it, so it's not easy to stop. In the direction of giving out free gum or patches, thats really a marketing ploy. Both gum and patches are addictive like nicotine, so when you get on them, you gotta keep paying the company for an unknown amount of time. It's like giving out taste-tests. To do that for overweight people to loose weight, has no benefits to the company. If a fat person wants to get their weight down, they'll eat less, which means that you (as the companies making food) won't make as much money. Something like a 10% off coupon to a farmer's market out to fat people wouldn't be a bad idea, though... because if a fat person goes to a farmers market, theres a good chance they'll be buying A LOT of food. Now that's marketing...

it is actually a very good point to make deb... i had been wondering about the same thing as well since the obesity rate here is very high... in fact, i heard that we are now number one in the world for the most number of obese people... US used to be number one and we beat them... :-) should we be proud or...??? anyway, the government here is doing everything they can to reduce the obesity rate as it started to get out of hand... junk food is banned entirely from school canteen, healthy eating is promoted everywhere, kids lunchbox is being inspected to make sure that they are eating correctly and the latest news i head is the government will be paying obese people a certain amount of money to encourage them to lose weight... take care and have a nice day...

When I saw the title I thought that you literally meant, "Why do smokers get breaks (at work)?" I have heard of various places where you get breaks to go out and smoke, usually outside of the building and possibly off the premises. No break at that time if you do not smoke. As far as health breaks for dieters, I have a program through my insurance that offers me rewards for tracking my health and even more rewards for achieving health related goals like lower cholesterol and losing weight. They are supposed to reimburse part of my Y membership as well. I am glad it is a private company, and not the government, though. If it was the government they would surely find some way to foul it all up.

I understand what you feel about this. There are so many things out there that need to be looked into and not just for the smokers. The only free program that I've seen so far for obesity would be those clubs in school where students are chosen or elect themselves to join in order to lose weight. There should be more 'help' rendered, or vouchers and etc. I welcome the idea too to help obesity persons..

i think obese people do not get that equality like the vouchers you mentioned because i don't think the government have actually thought about that, and its very true, i'm trying to lose weight and i'm currently unemployed since leaving uni last month, so i can't afford to buy fresh fruit and veg, I think you should seriously propose this idea to whom it may concern i.e. mp or whatever i think it could be a big hit

Losing weight isn't as hard as quitting smoking, nor as expensive. Junk food really isn't any cheaper than regular food, it's just easier. You just have to know how to shop right. Eating healthy doesn't mean you have to buy fresh produce. Canned and frozen veggies are still veggies just the same. Actually eating healthier should be cheaper because you're not buying soda anymore, you're drinking water (tap water is just fine for drinking, or buy a water filter), and you're not buying fast food or other junk, and you're not eating large portion sizes. Basically the only thing you need in order to lose weight is some knowledge of how to do it. If you make a mistake one night and have a brownie, it's okay, the next day you can get back on your dieting routine. But with quitting smoking it's so much harder (I've done both, so I know). Eating less doesn't cause physical changes, but when you stop smoking you get angry and irritable. It's hard not to go for a smoke to calm yourself down and feel better. It's an addiction that is extremely hard to break! Quitting smoking was one of the hardest things I've ever done. The worst of it is, if you mess up and have a smoke, you're done for! You can't go back to quitting the next day. Instead you go back to smoking full time! After 3 months I'm still on my dieting plan and have lost 60 pounds. It only took me 4 months to go back to smoking.

Hi Debs_place, Smoking is an addiction and obesity is not, its just greedynes encourageed by the goverments with fast food resturants but the smokers do pay for their patches and Nicorettes gums, well in this country you don't nothing free and its cost more than a packet of cigeretts,I still think smokers gets a raw deal in this. Tamara

It is the right of the state and city, respectively, under our constitution to pass whatever laws the publicly elected officials choose to pass. I would never support those types of laws here in Hilliard Ohio. If the public disagrees with those laws, they should vote differently, or move out of the city. Let the people who voted for it in those cities, stay and pay for what they voted for. As for explaining the disparity, it's simply politics. Smoking was the big cry of the late 90s. Obesity was not. When you put politics in charge of anything, whichever topic has the most play (and thus the most votes) wins out. Same thing happens in health care. Funding for AIDs is many times that of other illnesses that harm millions more people. Why? Because political groups, 20 somethings with too much time on their hands, and gay groups, who are most effected by their actions and don't want to face the consequences of their choices, protest and complain a lot.

You have asked a very good question! I have often wondered why smokers seem to get the breaks but people who are obese seem not to. They have to purchase extra seats on the airplanes now I hear, also. They also are discriminated against, even for something as simple as a role in a movie. To eat healthy costs a lot of money. For instance: a bottle of cola costs far less than a bottle of V8. When you are on a limited budget that can make all the difference. You can't kill someone with second hand obesity but you can kill them with second hand smoke!

I have never heard of the gum and patches being free...and I wish they were. But right now the patches and gum is cheaper than smoking period. And as for the eating healthy being expensive...well yes and no. I know because I am cheap as cheap can be and I have also found livign healthy is cheaper. Nowdays you can grow your own veggies, even in the apratments with the lovely topsy turvy LOL, and you can visit local produce stands...much cheaper than the stores and you get fresher and healthier veggies. Also if you ignore all the diet fades (except Weight Watchers they are the closest to a healthy diet plan, because they reteach you how to eat, and still eat what you want.) But here is a tip without dumping a load of money into those plans. Go to your local library and look up the cookbooks, and healthbooks offered by the American Diabetic and American Heart Associations. They are not bland recipes, and they are packed with tons of tips on how to eat what you want without gaining weight.... Oh and another plus to eating healthier...less salt...which actually makes you think your body is hungry when it really is thristy. Oh and as a soon to be ex smoker....don't think for one minute there is special treatment to me and my former comrades. In fact there is more ifgnorance and discrimination towards smokers than nons would like to think.

Hi Debs, I am a smoker and its doesn't bother me not to smoke in places. I can wait till I am done with whatever it is I am doing then smoke once I am outside. But if they try to banned smoking all together they will have a mess on there hands. I am glad I have my Wii fitness to exercise to. I eat a lot of veggies and fruits. But other diets i can't afford to pay for. I understand and agree with you when it comes down to people needing help to lose weight and they aren't getting the help.

Smoking is really bad to our health that's why your government really to save that smokers.

Well, that's a good point. I guess government has to do something with this one.