To wonder if people were actually healthier when everyone smoked

What utter nonsense is this.

People are not suddenly overweight and anti social because they don’t smoke.

correlation does not mean causation.

My mother was a heavy smoker until diagnosed with copd in her early 70s.
She died age 97 mentally normal but loads of other health problems and her life consisted of trying to cope with various appointments and managing increasing disability. She often said she wished she’d died when she was in her 70s.

Source for that statement?

Well it didn't make my DP, who died at 50 from lung cancer, having smoked from the age of 14, healthier. Nor were his mother or his brother who all died at a similar age from the same thing. So yes YABVVU.

No cigarettes cost far too much so who could afford it? They’re also rather smelly as are people who smoke them.

Ah so this isn’t pro-smoking. It’s anti-fat.

As a previously fat smoker OP, you are barking up the wrong tree.

This must be a wind up thread or OP is unbelievably dim.

No I'd say it catches up to you eventually.. recently just watched my grandmother and grandfather passed away struggling for breath, both early 70s both smoked all there life

You think people who don't smoke are not thinking about their health?

Smoking is categorically not good for you. We've known that for some time. Obesity is also not good for you but the solution isn't to take up smoking.

Well these are the countries that have highest percentage of people smoking.

none of them are particularly noted for good health outcomes.

https://www.worldatlas.com/society/10-countries-where-people-smoke-the-most.html#:~:text=Currently%2C%20the%20countries%20with%20the,What%20is%20this%3F

You what now? Most 72 year olds are perfectly healthy.

Lack of smoking is not what has caused the obesity issue in the UK. The good old days you speak of were also when there wasn't a take away on every street or apps to order a 1000 calorie iced coffee to your door several times a day.

Ffs OP. Open your eyes.

Skinny doesn't mean healthy either! It helps not to be overweight of course, but lung cancer is lung cancer, regardless of someone's BMI

Edit: typos

I was pretty fat when I smoked. I also used to get these awful lingering chest infections every time I got a cold. I did like the social aspect of the smoking areas so I’ll give you that. But overall I’m glad I quit and I’m glad smoking is declining overall. This is clearly a wind up thread though.

Cancers related to obesity are on the rise so potentially different cancers are now apparent however the third hand smoke and health issues caused by inhaling others smoke was awful. Not to mention the smells are certainly not missed.

You are correct on both counts but it's just correlation, not causation.

Back when everyone smoked we also ate very differently to how we do now. We didn't have Uber Eats to bring us KFC or McDonalds five days a week without leaving our house. We didn't half a bottle of wine or more every evening like it was the most normal thing in the world. We walked to school and played out in the street, we ate more simply but cooked from scratch more.

And as for the anxiety, we didn't have the internet and social media with 24 hour rolling news, being constantly reminded that the end of the earth was nigh and either WW3 was about to break out or the climate crisis was going to do for us. There are lots of reasons we are fatter and more anxious and depressed than we used to be, but not smoking isn't one of them.

@Fragmentedbrain I smoke ( yep hate admitting it) and have 4 stone to lose and no I’m not necessarily typical as I do look reasonably well,( apart from the weight) dress well, very good skin etc - I have cut down and hope to give up - honestly OP it’s the other issues if you don’t just focus on weight - I get coughs that last 8 days if I get a cold etc - and it’s caused havoc with teeth as I’ve got older ( I’m 63) -

Many people were long term unemployed with anxiety.

the 1950s were known as the age of anxiety.
many soldiers had ptsd from ww2
many women were taking Valium or similar to cope

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Post-traumatic_stress_disorder_after_World_War_II

Smoking doesn't just cause lung cancer, it also causes heart disease which is another big killer, and increases your risk of a stroke.

I'm not a smoker but I can see where you're coming from. The only smokers in my family lived to 82 and 95. People in the smoking era were slimmer and possibly happier but I can't stand the smell, the cost is horrendous so I don't think I'll chance it.

Smoking can help control weight yes. I used to smoke, from 12 (yikes) to 27. I have given up 21yrs now, before I had DS. I have smoked now and again, in the last 10yrs. Generally have one or two when drinking, but could then go 12 months and not have any, so maybe 1 or 2 per year.

My friend died from smoking related cancer (lung cancer) in March age 57. Honestly it was horrific, 9wks from diagnosis to death. Worse thing was when her DD found a text on her phone from the NHS inviting her to a lung consultation as she met the criteria for a chat and possible scan. If only she had gone. Seriously, I don’t think smoking makes anyone healthier.

I gained 2st first time I quit, so when I quit for good, I went on a diet at the same time. Maybe crazy, bur worked for me! It’s certainly possible to be a non smoker, and not overweight.

Emphysema is a horrible way to go.

The negative health effects from smoking are much bigger than those from obesity. We now need also to tackle obesity. But the causes of obesity today are not down to the lack of smoking,

What you’re suggesting really isn’t some kind of great contrarian thought experiment - it’s just mistaken.

The biggest improvement in public health over the last 40 years has been the reduction in smoking from 40% of the population to around 15% or less. There has been an associated improvement in mortality (and thus a rapid increase in life expectancy) and reduction in smoking related morbidity (the obvious one being lung cancer, but also cardiac related conditions).

So no, people weren’t healthier then, not only those who smoked but also those who experienced significant passive smoking at home, in public transport, at work and in pubs etc.

Smoking has a mild appetite suppression to it. People smoked rather than snacked.

Doesnt mean it's better for you