You Can Quit Smoking AND Control Your Weight Gain

Many smokers won’t try to quit because they’re convinced they’ll gain weight.  Nicotine suppresses appetite and boosts metabolism, so it’s a realistic anxiety.  However, a meta-analysis of pooled studies in women quitters, published in the journal Addiction earlier this year, shows that weight gain can often be avoided.

The Northwestern University, Chicago, researchers searched for published randomized clinical trials comparing smoking quitting treatment and behavioral weight control to quitting treatment alone.  Of 39 potentially relevant studies, 10 met the strict criteria established.  They encompassed 2,233 female smokers.

Women who were in studies that included the behavioral therapy were 29% more likely to quit smoking in the short term (less than 3 months) and 23% more likely in the long term (up to 14 months) than those on quitting treatment alone.  They also gained less weight than those who didn’t have the behavioral therapy:  2.1 pounds less in the short term and 2.5 pounds in the long term. 

In fact, the average benefits of behavioral therapy for weight control are not too dramatic; saving a little over 2 pounds gain isn’t going to help much in persuading women to try quitting if weight gain is a major sticking point.  But for those who are considering undertaking the difficult task of quitting, additional weight control therapy may just make a significant difference in helping them reach a decision.