Worraliberty, food addiction is certainly more acceptable than smoking, because it doesn't physically damage anyone nearby like smoking, and because everyone has to eat, so it is a hard one to solve; smoking is something no one has to start doing at all.
I don't think they're similar at all.
Smoking doesn't physically damage anyone nearby, if you don't smoke in front of anyone nearby and not all smokers do, however that doesn't stop certain Mumsnetters tearing into them like a pack of rabid dogs.
Everyone has to eat, but not everyone has to eat too much or eat junk, while not taking enough exercise to burn it off.
No-one has to start smoking at all but you know what?
Many of the overeaters on here will say they do it because they were abused as a child, brought up by parents who criticised them and didn't give a shit about them, they have poor self esteem, had EA or violent relationships etc etc...
Well maybe, just maybe it's the same for some smokers?
But do the judgey pants people ever stop to think about that in between calling them 'disgusting' and 'ohh how classy' 'are you proud that your DD smokes too'? etc...
I think some people like to point the finger at smokers because not smoking is probably one of the only unhealthy things they manage not to do themselves.
While they're pointing the finger at others, they're not pointing it at themselves, just for a solitary moment.