Health News and Information

CRITICAL PERIODS FOR FAT GAIN: PHYSIOLOGICAL

After quitting smoking. Smokers who quit have been shown to gain an average of around 3.5kg of body weight over twelve months after quitting. This is due to a variety of reasons. Nicotine tends to speed up metabolic rate and a significant drop is noted on quitting. Smoking also suppresses the taste and smell senses so that after smoking cessation, food can smell and taste better. Also, withdrawal from nicotine is a difficult experience and activities involving the hands and mouth (such as eating) are often used as a substitute for smoking.

Research carried out at the University of California, however, has shown that not all quitting smokers put on weight. There are those who gain a lot (over 12kg), those who gain a little (up to 3kg), those whose weight remains stable, and those who actually lose weight. In over 2000 twins studied over 16 years.

Comparisons of super-gainers with non-gainers after quitting showed that super-gainers were younger, of lower socioeconomic status, started smoking at a younger age, were heavier smokers, exercised less and drank more coffee than non-gainers. There were no differences in their body mass before quitting, the number of alcoholic drinks taken per month, or the likelihood of dieting to keep weight low. Hence, lifestyle and socioeconomic factors seem to influence whether there is weight gain or not after smoking.

Interestingly, comparisons between identical and non identical twins showed that there was considerable similarity in weight change after quitting amongst the identical twins. This suggests genetic factors may also be important in determining whether weight gain occurs after quitting smoking.

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