Smokers gain more weight than thought after kicking the butt

Giving up smoking is associated with an average weight gain of 4-5 kg after 12 months, most of which occurs within the first three months of quitting, a new study has found.

Although this figure is higher than previously thought, an accompanying editorial argues that the health benefits of quitting far outweigh this modest gain in body weight and should not deter people from quitting.

It is well known that giving up smoking is often followed by an increase in body weight, but estimates vary. Concern about weight gain is also widespread among smokers and it may deter some — particularly women — from trying to quit.

So a team of researchers based in France and the UK analysed the results of 62 studies to assess weight change among successful quitters — with and without the help of nicotine replacement therapy — after 12 months.

In untreated quitters, the average weight gain was 1.1kg at one month, 2.3kg at two months, 2.9kg at three months, 4.2kg at six months, and 4.7kg at 12 months.

This is higher than the typical 2.9kg often quoted in smoking cessation advice leaflets and more than the 2.3kg many female smokers report being willing to tolerate, on average, before attempting to quit, say the authors.

However, the changes in body weight varied widely, with around 16% of quitters losing weight and 13% gaining more than 10kg after 12 months.

According to the authors, this indicates that the average value does not reflect the actual weight change of many people who give up smoking.

Estimates of weight gain for people using nicotine replacement therapy were similar, as were estimates from people especially concerned about weight gain.

Previous reports have underestimated the average amount of weight gained when people stop smoking, they conclude.

“These data suggest that doctors might usefully give patients a range of expected weight gain,” the researchers said.

The study has been published on bmj.com.

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