More Americans view obesity as worse than smoking

July 27, 2012 (CHICAGO)

More Americans now say that obesity is a more serious public health issue than cigarette smoking.

This is according to a new Gallup poll. Of those surveyed in the new nationwide poll, 81 percent considered obesity to be an "extremely" or "very" serious problem.

This is up from 69 percent who said the same in Gallup's 2005 poll.

That means nearly 4 in 10 Americans believe obesity is more of a danger to society than smoking.

30 percent say the same about cigarettes and 18 percent feel that way about alcohol.

Only 3 percent says obesity is not a serious problem, and 6 percent say the same about smoking.

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