General and smoking cessation related weight concerns in veterans

This study sought to assess general and cessation related weight concerns in Veterans presenting for QuitSmart, a tobacco cessation program used extensively in the Veteran Affairs system. Assessed were prevalence rates of cessation related weight concerns, the weight at which concerned Veterans would relapse to smoking, characteristics of weight concerned Veterans, and the impact of weight concerns on cessation at the program's end and at the 1-month follow-up. Sixty-seven Veterans participated. Of those, 63 were eligible for cessation analyses. Results suggested that 26.9% were concerned about post-cessation weight gain, the mean and median weights tolerated before relapse were in the 10-12 lb range, and weight concerned Veterans were more likely younger with more general weight concerns. At both time points, Veterans with general weight concerns were much more likely to quit smoking than those without such concerns. At neither time point, were post-cessation weight concerns significantly associated with quit status, though specific concerns remained in predictive models and trends suggested those with cessation related weight concerns were less likely to quit smoking than those without such concerns. Results suggest a significant prevalence rate of general and cessation related weight concerns in Veterans attempting to quit smoking, greater success in doing so if weight concerns are general in nature, and the need to continue to assess these relationships and develop effective cessation treatments for this population.