According to figures shared by a recent research, over the coming 10 years, there is a very good chance that the health benefits that America would achieve in terms of less smokers would be outweighed by the rapid rise in obesity, which is by far going unchecked.

Overall, it seems that the American are smoking less, but putting on weight very rapidly, as has been proved by CDC figures. As of now, nearly 34% of the US adult population is overweight, which amounts to about 72 million people, a sharp rise as compared to the 15% people who were obese in 1980.

But, on the other hand, there is about a 50% reduction in the number of smokers. Today, every 1 in 5 Americans is a smoker, as compared to every 2 in 5 recorded during the 1970s.

For the sake of research, which was conducted by experts from Harvard University and the University of Michigan, data was complied and examined from national health surveys which were conducted from early 1970s to 2006.

After thorough examination, the researchers concluded that in each scenario that was tested, there was a "negative health impact of not addressing the obesity epidemic outweighed the benefits derived from the decline in smoking".

If the trend recorded by the study continues, "nearly half of adults in the U. S. will meet the World Health Organization criteria for obesity by 2020".

Details of the research will be published in the December 3 issue of the New England Journal of Medicine.