Have efforts to reduce smoking really contributed to the obesity epidemic?
Publication Source
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Economic Inquiry
Journal article
Metadata
Region
The Americas
Economy status
High-income economies
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Abstract
Two of the most notable trends in public health over the past 30 yr are the reductions in smoking rates and the rapid rise in obesity rates. Several studies have investigated the relationship between these trends but have drawn different conclusions. In this article, we revisit this issue, attempting to clarify the prior discrepant results. Overall, we find no support for the claim that rising cigarette taxes have significantly contributed to rising obesity rates. Instead, we find only a moderately sized effect among former smokers.