Physical Wellness

Waiting to Quit Smoking May Mean Putting on More Weight

By Christine Hsu | Update Date: Aug 21, 2013 05:01 PM EDT

Weight gain can prevent some smokers from quitting.  However, a new study suggests that smokers will gain more weight the longer they wait to break their habit.

Japanese researchers found that smokers with more severe nicotine dependence are more likely to gain weight when they try to quit.

A new study revealed that even with nicotine replacement therapy, people gain substantial amounts of weight when quitting cigarettes.

The study involved people who successfully abstained from smoking after nicotine replacement therapy at a clinic.

The findings revealed that people who scored higher on the Fagerström Test for Nicotine Dependence (FTND), meaning that they were more dependent on nicotine. Other factors significantly associated with post-smoking weight gain were higher serum triglycerides and lower HDL-cholesterol levels at the start of therapy and the number of cigarettes participants reported smoking each day.

Researchers found no significant difference weight gain between patients who used nicotine patches and those that used the oral pill varenicline.

In light of the new research, researchers suggest that smokers with higher nicotine dependency may also need interventions against weight gain.

The findings are published in the journal PLoS ONE

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