Weighing the health cost of continuing to smoke

People who quit smoking gain an average of 4.1 kg in body weight over about five years, which is 2.6 kg more than that gained by continuing smokers, according to a story by Megan Haggan for the Australian Journal of Pharmacy citing a recent study carried out at the University of Tasmania’s Menzies Institute for Medical Research.

Researchers Jing Tian and Dr. Seana Gall analysed data from 63,403 quitters and 388,432 continuing smokers.

They found that the weight gain was greater in women quitters than in men quitters, and that it was greater in North America than in Asia.

Fear of weight gain is a commonly cited reason for not quitting smoking, despite evidence that quitting will result in better overall health.

“We don’t want our findings interpreted as an incentive to keep smoking,” said Gall, a cardiovascular epidemiologist.

“Other studies suggest that this small amount of weight gain does not offset the many health benefits of quitting smoking.

The study, using a systematic review and meta-analysis, was published recently in the journal Obesity Reviews.