Why do communitarians support some public campaigns against smoking and obesity?

Communitarians support public campaigns against smoking and obesity because they reject the liberal view that individual preferences are entirely autonomous. Instead, they argue that personal preferences are significantly shaped by the larger culture and can be heavily influenced by nonrational forces, such as commercial advertising.1

Because individual identity is socially constructed, communitarians believe that public efforts to influence these preferences in beneficial ways do not undermine personal autonomy or violate human dignity. By encouraging healthier choices, these campaigns serve the common good without being inherently paternalistic, as they address the social context in which individuals form their habits and desires.21