Smoking cessation and weight gain.

Smoking Cessation: Significance and Implications for Children

“…Weight gain after smoking cessation is thought to be due mainly to increased energy intake and decreased resting metabolic rate, although other metabolic changes and reduced physical activity also contribute [120]. NRT, particularly the nicotine gum, has been found to delay but not prevent weight gain [21,25,64,120]. In contrast, administration of bupropion SR was associated with a dose-dependent decrease in weight gain that was maintained over 2 years [64,121,122], although this is not an entirely consistent finding [65].…”

“…People who quit smoking can anticipate weight gain (on average 4-6 kg or~9-13 lbs during the first 12 months), although not all subjects gain and some even lose weight [119,120]. There are indications that heavy smokers, people under the age of 55 years, and African-Americans are at particular risk of gaining weight.…”

“…There are indications that heavy smokers, people under the age of 55 years, and African-Americans are at particular risk of gaining weight. Weight gain after smoking cessation is thought to be due mainly to increased energy intake and decreased resting metabolic rate, although other metabolic changes and reduced physical activity also contribute [120]. NRT, particularly the nicotine gum, has been found to delay but not prevent weight gain [21,25,64,120].…”

A short-term smoking cessation may increase the risk of developing metabolic syndrome

“…Metabolic syndrome (MS) is known to be associated with the increased risk for cardiovascular mortality [2]. Cigarette smokers usually have a lower body mass index (BMI) compared to nonsmokers, and smoking cessation leads to body fat accumulation [3]. The change in BMI has been attributed to the increased metabolic rate and reduced appetite by smoking [4].…”

Randomized, controlled, double-blind trial of taranabant for smoking cessation

“…Because of the prolonged half-life of taranabant (Addy et al 2008a), post-treatment (off-drug) assessment of safety and tolerability was extended to 6 weeks. In addition, weight changes were assessed since there is evidence that CB1 receptor inverse agonists help aid weight loss in obese patients (Akbas et al 2009), which would be an advantage in smoking cessation where many smokers worry about gaining weight following withdrawal (Filozof et al 2004). The dose of taranabant was titrated from 2 to 8 mg to try to limit the impact of the adverse events associated with this class of agents.…”