Twenty percent of Americans are smokers, but 33% are obese. The higher prevalence of obesity is making an impact on anti-tobacco funding. The Robert Wood Johnson Foundation has spent about $700 million in the fight against tobacco. It aims to reduce smoking rate by half in the U.S. But, of late, the foundation has also targeted obesity as a major concern. As a result, the organization has reduced anti-smoking grants to $4 million, while its anti-obesity financing has risen to $58 million.
Fight for Health Funding
This development is an indicator of the stiff fight for health funding, from state and federal government sources and private charities. And, increasingly tobacco warriors are losing out. The Obama administration has provided more funds for anti-obesity programs than for tobacco-use prevention. Anti-tobacco efforts got a $200 million boost, but this is much less than the amount allotted to fight obesity.
State governments which have garnered billions from tobacco taxes, have cut $150 million over the past two years from anti-tobacco efforts. While anti-obesity announcements are lining up on the airways, tobacco campaigns have had to take a back seat for lack of funding.
Declining Funds for “Truth” Anti-tobacco Campaign
American Legacy Foundation, an anti-smoking organization, runs the “Truth” campaign in the media for awareness about smoking hazards. This campaign got $104 million in the year 2000. Last year, funding declined to $35 million. Legacy experts say the tobacco industry spends more in a day than what the organization does in a year.
Tobacco Funds Diverted Elsewhere
States have raised cigarette taxes to record highs. This has deterred smokers. But, the tobacco funds are being diverted elsewhere and less of it is being used for anti-tobacco efforts. This diversion of funds has affected youth and adult smoking rates, whose progress has slowed down as a result. States have cut funding by 21 percent for anti-tobacco programs from $717 million two years ago, to $567 million in 2009.
More Focus on Anti-obesity Efforts
The federal government has compensated somewhat for the decline in state anti-tobacco funding. But, its funding for anti-obesity efforts are even more. Health experts say the focus on obesity prevention has decreased attention on other health issues such as smoking. Tobacco still kills four times as many U.S. citizens as obesity does. But, obesity rates have doubled in the years since 1985, while smoking rates have reduced.
