Jump to full article: The Wall Street Journal Interactive Edition, 2005-04-15
Author: LEE HAWKINS JR. Staff Reporter of THE WALL STREET JOURNAL April 15, 2005 6:03 p.m.
Intro: Tommy Thompson, former U.S. Secretary of Health and Human Services and longtime governor of Wisconsin, said companies need to step up anti-obesity and smoking-cessation programs in order to reduce the prevalence of often preventable chronic illnesses such as diabetes and cancer.
Noting that seven out of 10 deaths in the U.S. are caused by chronic illnesses, Mr. Thompson told a group of consultants and business leaders at a roundtable in Detroit Friday that he intends to deliver that message to businesses across the U.S. in the coming months. "Let's be practical. Tobacco kills," Mr. Thompson said. "If you really want to have an impact, you have to start controlling tobacco."
"Every company has got to get involved in the cessation of smoking and monitoring diabetes," Mr. Thompson said.
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Quotes from this article:
I used to be a smoker. I used to work on the line. . . . What's the difference in smoking outside? While we talk about smoking on one hand, let's talk about all the chemical exposures we have in the plants.
UAW president Ron Gettelfinger.
Let's be practical. Tobacco kills. If you really want to have an impact, you have to start controlling tobacco. Every company has got to get involved in the cessation of smoking. . . . I would like to see the unions and the management work together.
Former U.S. Secretary of Health and Human Services Tommy Thompson, at a health-care symposium set up by one of his new employers, Deloitte & Touche USA LLP.
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