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February 8, 2010

Pennsylvanians Smoking Less but Eating More – and It’s Showing

Harrisburg, PA – Smoking rates are down in Pennsylvania, and the results can be seen in fewer cancer deaths, but obesity rates are up – which virtually wipes out the health gains made by reduced tobacco use. Comments from Chuck Reed with the American Cancer Society.

Intro: Fewer Pennsylvanians are smoking now than they were ten or fifteen years ago. Pennsylvania still ranks 11th in the nation in the number of adult smokers, according to new research from the Campaign for Tobacco Free Kids, but the current rate of 21.7% is down from nearly 24% in 1997. That's the good news. Not so good is a study in the New England Journal of Medicine that shows the benefits of not lighting up could be wiped out by a growing obesity rate. Chuck Reed with the American Cancer Society says few people are aware of the link between being overweight and getting cancer.

 Cut 215003 :09  "One of the scary things that we found in this recent survey is that 50 percent of the people don’t know that there is direct correlation between obesity and cancer."

Tag:  Reed says research shows if all U-S adults became nonsmokers of normal weight by 2020, life expectancy would increase by almost four years.

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Second Cut: Reed says quitting smoking is one of the most common New Year’s resolutions...but if people are going to resolve to be healthy in 2010, he says they shouldn't stop there.

 Cut 225003 :13  "If you going quit smoking, which we encourage you to do, take it one step further and also maintain a healthy body weight, because that way, you're making positive lifestyle choices and you can live longer and you can enjoy your life better."

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OPTIONAL REPORTER WRAP: uses first soundbite(s)
LEAD: Smoking rates are down in Pennsylvania, and the results can be seen in fewer cancer deaths, but obesity rates are up – which virtually wipes out the health gains made by reduced tobacco use. Tom Joseph reports.

 Cut 235003 :48 Outcue...Tom Joseph reporting.

Note to Editors: Chuck Reed is at 515-727-0079. For tips on healthy eating, visit www.cancer.org/GreatAmericans