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Published on: October 22, 2020
Weight gain in smokers after quitting cigarettes: meta-analysis.
Henri-Jean Aubin1, Amanda Farley, Deborah Lycett
1Centre d'Enseignement, de Recherche et de Traitement des Addictions, Hôpital Paul Brousse, AP-HP, Univ Paris-Sud, INSERM U669, 94804 Villejuif, France. henri-jean.aubin@pbr.aphp.fr
Smoking cessation leads to an average weight gain of 4-5 kg within 12 months, with most occurring in the first three months. Weight changes vary significantly among individuals who quit smoking.
Area of Science:
- Public Health
- Addiction Medicine
- Behavioral Science
Background:
- Smoking cessation is a key public health goal.
- Weight gain is a common concern for individuals attempting to quit smoking.
- Understanding weight change patterns is crucial for supporting long-term abstinence.
Purpose of the Study:
- To quantify weight gain in smokers achieving prolonged abstinence up to 12 months.
- To analyze weight variation in individuals quitting with or without cessation aids.
- To describe the trajectory of weight change post-smoking cessation.
Main Methods:
- A meta-analysis of 62 randomized controlled trials.
- Inclusion criteria focused on studies reporting weight change in abstinent smokers.
- Random effects models were used to calculate mean weight change and explore subgroup differences.
Main Results:
- Untreated quitters gained an average of 4.67 kg at 12 months post-cessation.
- Most weight gain (over 4 kg) occurred within the first three months.
- Weight gain patterns were similar across different cessation pharmacotherapies and levels of concern about weight gain.
Conclusions:
- Smoking cessation is associated with a significant mean weight increase of 4-5 kg after one year.
- The majority of weight gain happens early in the cessation process.
- There is considerable individual variation in weight change, with some quitters losing weight and others gaining substantially.
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