Comment by paulpauper

If it's true as you say that it's better to be a smoker now than a non-smoker -- it's only because you're going to lose weight, and that's your biggest risk factor for all-cause mortality.

the negative health effects of smoking negates the weight loss . despite being slimmer, smokers die 10 years earlier compared to the general population. obese people only lose a few years (1-3 years for moderately obese men).