Side-effects and weight gain following a smoking cessation program

Few prospective studies on possible side-effects of smoking cessation have been reported. In the current study, a variety of side-effects and weight gain were assessed throughout and following a smoking cessation program with 94 subjects. Subjects in a cognitive urge control maintenance condition were found to have gained significantly more weight than other conditions. This group also tended to have the highest abstinence rate and lowest percent baseline smoking at follow-up. Abstainers tended to have gained more weight than relapsers , and had rated themselves as higher on "eating more" and had placed themselves as farthest from "optimal" on a measure of general appetite and overeating. On all other side-effects, however, relapsers appeared to be reporting more negative attributes. These results were discussed within the context of incorporating side-effect control strategies as part of smoking cessation programs.