It's not as much of a connection, like breathing someone else's second hand smoke. Folks considered that a direct threat to their lives, based on the hype in the media.
You could make the argument that skinny people contribute to Global Warming because they don't have enough fat on their bodies to keep warm, so they either have to use more clothing, which uses up natural resources and needs energy to create, or turn the heat up in their homes, which uses more energy and pumps out CO2.
See how that argument can be turned around, and how it sounds just as silly as the "Lancet" contention?
Of course it’s silly. But that won’t stop the Left. Wait and see.
The anti smoker agenda was never really about SHS. It was just convenient, you are right, that there was an immediate annoyance that made it politically expedient.
The justification for the inevitable fast food taxes will be "Why should the State pay 5 kajilllion dollars of taxpayer money to pay for someone's diabetes and hypertension meds through Medicare and Medicaid?"
If Gubmint is paying for their care, it is their right to intervene and reduce their costs.