Short Communication
Rakesh Gupta
Abstract
Tobacco usage in any form and obesity are the major public health challenges and the prevalence of both is increasing globally. Tobacco increases the risk of Non-Communicable Diseases (NCDs) eg. Cancer, respiratory and cardiovascular diseases, and is the leading preventable cause of death in developed countries. Obesity is the fifth leading cause of death, globally, and accounts for 44% of cases of diabetes and 23% of ischemic heart disease. The Framingham Study showed that the life expectancy of obese smokers is around 13 years shorter than non-obese, never smokers1. Over 80% of smokers wish to quit smoking but only 33% attempt to do so. Of those who attempt to quit, 75%-80% relapse within six months.