Weight gain following smoking cessation: a possible role for nicotine replacement in weight management

This study examined nicotine dependence as a factor in weight gain following smoking cessation in a group of 104 recent ex-smokers. Nicotine dependence was measured using the eight-item Fagerstrom Tolerance Questionnaire. Findings support the hypothesis that weight gain following smoking cessation is greater among more nicotine dependent persons. Heavier smokers (greater than or equal to 26 cigs/day), those who reported smoking when they are ill, and those who reported smoking their first cigarette of the day within 30 minutes of waking up reported the greatest increases in weight one month after quitting. Twenty subjects reported using nicotine gum to help them quit smoking. A significant inverse correlation (r = -.17) was found between weight gain and the number of pieces of nicotine gum chewed per day. Stratification by the number of cigarettes smoked daily (greater than or equal to 26 cigs/versus less than 26 cigs/day) indicated that the correlation between weight gain and the number of pieces of nicotine gum chewed per day was significant only for heavy smokers (r = -.37 versus r = -.08). This finding suggests that nicotine replacement may help prevent weight gain following smoking cessation, especially for the more dependent smokers.