Weight Changes Vary After Smoking Cessation

Smoking cessation can be associated with weight gain. In this meta-analysis of 62 clinical trials, investigators determined weight changes among smokers who quit and abstained from smoking for as long as 12 months.

Among quitters who did not receive cessation-support drugs, mean weight gains at 1, 2, 3, 6, and 12 months after cessation were 1.1 kg, 2.3 kg, 2.9 kg, 4.2 kg, and 4.7 kg, respectively. At 12 months after cessation, 16% of quitters had lost weight, 37% had gained <5 kg, 34% had gained 5 to 10 kg, and 13% had gained >10 kg. Outcomes were similar for quitters who did receive cessation-support drugs (i.e., nicotine replacement, bupropion, or varenicline).