Trying to equate the two, or defend smoking based on food (however healthy it is) is ridiculous.

my asthma flares up.

As I walked past.

I have never been as seriously affected by what someone eats as I have been the FUMES of a smoker.
They do not have the right to pollute the air I breathe. if you are eating french fries and a cheese burger, it does not make it's way to my lungs, your second-hand smoke does.

which some schools already ban, or at least confine to certain areas.

PART of the argument for banning smoking relates to the health of the direct consumer, but quite a lot of the argument relates to the health of indirect consumers. one person smokes, but someone who didn't sign up for it coughs, sneezes, gets a migraine, needs dry cleaning, etc. in the case of hospitals, it's also about the example it sets for others, so it's partly a matter of p.r. there.

most foods, such as mcnuggets or frankenfood, only affect the direct consumer, who exercised free choice, so the argument isn't nearly as compelling. except in the case of allergens, such as peanuts, where indirect exposure could cause a severe or even fatal reaction.

However childhood asthma causes more missed days of public school than any communicable disease and certainly more than child hood obesity. In schools there is also a positive example to be set by non smokers.

There is a cut in employee health insurance costs to an employer if that business is smoke free, and probably in fire insurance as well.
For hospitals it is truly bizarre to see patients towing their IVs and hospital staff standing outside smoking. It is terrible PR.

Cigarette smoke dirties walls and ceilings and gums up air filter systems in hospitals, labs and other institutions that have high quality air purification. That gets expensive.

And there is the bottom line smoking stinks and we non smokers resent the hell out of being forced to smell and breath it. Fat people generally not so offensive.

That said, as a healthcare worker. obesity is a huge health problem, and a very expensive one.
Have a eating problem. Here's how to get over it.
Try working in a hospital and having to deal with a freshly cut of leg that is so infected that it has to be removed and then of course the tissue is further tested for invectives organisms and other diabetic ulcer problems.

even in a parking lot, I can tell if I'm passing through a trail left by a smoker! I was thinking more of institutions ostensibly banning smoking for the health of the individual smoker and/or education of the general public!

I eat it for the same reason I smoke: Because I enjoy it.

for people with health problems due to the food.

And that in turn affects my health, cause I'm spending more money to keep them healthy instead of myself.

not that I really believe any of that shit, but if we're gonna be smoking nannies, why not foodie nannies too.

Or alcohol nannies, or nannies of any old little thing that bad for one's health.

their mission. Suppose you were a diabetic visiting someone at your local hospital. Would you be able to easily purchase a proper meal?

and telling them they can't do it at all.

Are you suggesting that only "smoking nannies" want to regulate smoking at gas stations, or inside hospital ICUs, or in preschools, for instance?

it hasn't been allowed in ICU's or preschools in DECADES (if ever).

There are people who want a complete prohibition on it.

regulations on WHERE folks can light up, you can rest assured I will weigh in against "complete prohibition".

Which should not be confused with regulations on where people can smoke.

Do you ever see people drinking in the office anymore like they do on Mad Men? Drinking in the workplace is pretty much frowned upon and has been for decades (except occasionally at the office Christmas party). Now smoking in the workplace (or outside of it) is starting to become frowned upon as well.

I imagine food will come about soon enough.

parking lots. Even banning people from smoking in their own cars on the lots.

The denial runs deep, young Jedi.

By anyone.

(although some would suggest that forcing a patient into a cold turkey situation is not a good idea, especially for those with mental health issues).

The real point of the post was to question why so many hospitals, schools and colleges have fast food outlets on campus and/or rely heavily on over-salted, highly sugared processed foods.

The issue with schools and colleges is because of budget. Fast food places pay them rent and give them a cut, and Aramark is cheaper than real food.

I agree with you!

sorta..

I'm a former smoker and I agree that you shouldn't stand in front of a hospital smoking. That being said, I should be able to get in my car and smoke a cigarette without being harassed.

I don't think the hospital should be able to tell me I can't smoke in my car. In front of their hospital, or even outside my car in the parking lot--fine. But once I'm in my car it's another story..at least in my opinion.

no such thing as "second hand obesity" sorry.

of people worked on getting the smoking ban for a long time. Be grateful it is there now.



Tikki