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WEIGHT GAIN AFTER SMOKING CESSATION.

Concern about weight gain discourages many smokers from trying to quit, and leads some who have quit to start smoking again. How realistic is such concern? This report, based on a national survey, provides an accurate assessment.

The investigators analyzed data from a group of 2653 smokers identified between 1971 and 1975 and reevaluated between 1982 and 1984, at which time 768 (29 percent) had quit smoking for one year or more. On average, the men who quit gained about six pounds, and the women about eight. Major weight gain that could threaten health (defined as greater than 28.6 pounds) occurred in 9.8 percent of men and 13.4 percent of women; compared with subjects who continued smoking, the relative risk of such weight gain was 8.1 in men and 5.8 in women. The risk of major weight gain was substantially higher in blacks, people under age 55, and people who had smoked more than 15 cigarettes per day.

This report confirms earlier studies and much anecdotal evidence that smoking cessation can trigger weight gain. At the same time, it shows that the gain is generally moderate (six to eight pounds or less); while it may have unwanted cosmetic effects, it does not endanger health. Even in the one person in 10 with a major weight gain, the health risks are probably exceeded by the benefits of smoking cessation. Nevertheless, it is clear that better weight-control techniques are needed.

— ALK

Published in Journal Watch General Medicine March 19, 1991

Citation(s):

Williamson DF et al. Smoking cessation and severity of weight gain in a national cohort. N Engl J Med 1991 Mar 14 324 739-745.

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