Does falling smoking lead to rising obesity?

Abstract

The strong negative correlation over time between smoking rates and obesity have led some to suggest that reduced smoking is increasing weight gain in the U.S. This conclusion is supported by findnigs of Chou et al. (2004), who conclude that higher cigarette prices lead to increased body weight. We investigate this issue and find no evidence that reduced smoking leads to weight gain. Using the cigarette tax rather than the cigarette price and controlling for non-linear time effects, we find a negative effect of cigarette taxes on body implying that reduced smoking leads to lower body weights. Yet our results, as ell as Chou et al., imply implausibly large effects of smoking on body weight. Thus, we cannot confirm that falling smoking leads in a major way to rising obesity rates in the U.S.

The effect of health shocks on smoking and obesity

“…6 The study also showed that rising cigarette prices lead to an increase in body weight in the US [45]. As, however, the latter finding was contested by Gruber et al, who found the opposite effect using cigarette taxes rather than prices as a variable in their explanatory model [46], I did not factor cigarette taxes or prices into the equation. 7 The GSOEP does not indicate if the individual is pregnant in the respective time period or not.…”

Why has the prevalence of obesity doubled?

“…Courtemanche and Carden (2011) find that the proliferation of Walmart Supercenters has increased obesity, at least partially by lowering food prices. Chou et al (2004) and Baum (2009) find that higher cigarette prices have exacerbated obesity, although Gruber and Frakes's (2006) results show that higher cigarette taxes are negatively associated with obesity. In 1964, the U.S.…”

“…Recently, researchers have begun examining the effects of various socio-environmental changes, which may have affected net calories consumed, on the prevalence of obesity. For example, Baum (2007) examines changes in the racial and ethnic composition and age distribution; Lakdawalla and Philipson (2007) examine employment and physical activity at work; Cutler et al (2003), Chou et al (2004), Rashad and Grossman (2004), and Rashad et al (2006) examine the prevalence of restaurants and food prices; Chou et al (2004) and Gruber and Frakes (2006) examine cigarette prices and taxes; Gibson (2003), Chen et al (2005), Meyerhoefer and Pylypchuk (2008), and Baum (2011) examine food stamp receipt; and Ewing et al (2003), Eid et al (2008), and Zhao and Kaestner (2010) examine urban sprawl.…”

A Demographic Profile of Obesity in the Adult and Veteran US Populations in 2008

“…On the one hand, smoking is associated with multiple chronic morbidities and elevated mortality risks. On the other hand, smoking is associated with lower BMI levels (Gruber and Frakes 2006;Keenan 2009;Nonnemaker et al 2009). Current physical activity and exercise have an inverse relationship with obesity (Lahti-Koski et al 2002).…”