Weight Gain Is Chief Worry Of Smokers Who Seek – Or Avoid – Stop-Smoking Programs

A U.S. study finds that smokers worry about gaining weight after quitting, whether or not they sought treatment, if they had tried quitting in the past and ended up gaining weight. On average, smokers who quit gain between eight and 14 pounds. This phenomenon often keeps smokers from quitting. For the study researchers questioned 186 smokers who had sought treatment to quit. They also questioned 102 smokers who avoided treatment. All were asked about weight gain during past attempts to quit and whether gaining weight was a concern. They found that smokers who sought treatment were equally concerned about gaining weight as the smokers who avoided treatment.