OBJECTIVES: This study estimated weight gain after smoking cessation and identified factors attenuating this gain. METHODS: We conducted a prospective follow-up of 1209 male factory workers for 2 to 4 years. The independent variables were smoking habits. age, sports activity, education, alcohol consumption, ethnicity, duration of follow-up, and body mass index (BMI, kg/m2) at entry. The dependent variable was increase in BMI during follow-up. RESULTS: The mean age-adjusted BMI at entry into the study was 26.6 kg/m2 among past smokers and 25.4 kg/m2 among current smokers. There were no differences in BMI between those who quit less than 3 years before entry and those who quit more than 6 years before entry. During follow-up, the average increase in BMI was 0.07 kg/m2 among never smokers, 0.19 kg/m2 among smokers who had stopped smoking before entry, 0.24 kg/m2 among current smokers, and 0.99 kg/m2 among those who stopped smoking after entry. Cessation of smoking after entry predicted an increased gain in BMI; older age, a higher BMI at entry, sports activity, and alcohol consumption attenuated this gain. CONCLUSIONS: The increased rate of weight gain after smoking cessation is transient. However, the weight gained is retained for at least 6 years.
OBJECTIVES: This study estimated weight gain after smoking cessation and identified factors attenuating this gain. METHODS: We conducted a prospective follow-up of 1209 male factory workers for 2 to 4 years. The independent variables were smoking habits. age, sports activity, education, alcohol consumption, ethnicity, duration of follow-up, and body mass index (BMI, kg/m2) at entry. The dependent variable was increase in BMI during follow-up. RESULTS: The mean age-adjusted BMI at entry into the study was 26.6 kg/m2 among past smokers and 25.4 kg/m2 among current smokers. There were no differences in BMI between those who quit less than 3 years before entry and those who quit more than 6 years before entry. During follow-up, the average increase in BMI was 0.07 kg/m2 among never smokers, 0.19 kg/m2 among smokers who had stopped smoking before entry, 0.24 kg/m2 among current smokers, and 0.99 kg/m2 among those who stopped smoking after entry. Cessation of smoking after entry predicted an increased gain in BMI; older age, a higher BMI at entry, sports activity, and alcohol consumption attenuated this gain. CONCLUSIONS: The increased rate of weight gain after smoking cessation is transient. However, the weight gained is retained for at least 6 years.
Authors: Keith P Gennuso; Keith M Thraen-Borowski; Tanya R Schlam; Tara L LaRowe; Michael C Fiore; Timothy B Baker; Lisa H Colbert Journal: Prev Med Date: 2014-08-02 Impact factor: 4.018