Body mass decrease after initial gain following smoking cessation

BACKGROUND: Although smoking cessation is strongly associated with subsequent weight gain, it is not clear whether the initial gain in weight after smoking cessation remains over time. METHOD: Cross-sectional analyses were made, using data from periodic health examinations for workers, on the relationship between body mass index (BMI) and the length of smoking cessation. In addition, linear regression coefficients of BMI on the length of cessation were estimated according to alcohol intake and sport activity, to examine the modifying effect of these factors on the weight of former smokers. RESULTS: Means of BMI were 23.1 kg/m2, 23.3 kg/m2, 23.6 kg/m2 for light/medium smokers, heavy smokers and never smokers, respectively. Among former smokers who had smoked > or = 25 cigarettes a day, odds ratio (OR) of BMI >25 kg/m2 were 1.88 (95% confidence interval [CI] : 1.05-3.35), 1.32 (95% CI : 0.74-2.34), 0.66 (95% CI: 0.33-1.31) for those with 2-4 years, 5-7 years, and 8-10 years of smoking cessation, respectively. The corresponding OR among those who previously consumed <25 cigarettes a day were 1.06 (95% CI: 0.58-1.94), 1.00 (95% CI: 0.58-1.71), and 1.49 (95% CI: 0.95-2.32). CONCLUSIONS: The results suggest that although heavy smokers may experience large weight gain and weigh more than never smokers in the few years after smoking cessation, they thereafter lose weight to the never smoker level, while light and moderate smokers gain weight up to the never smoker level without any excess after smoking cessation.     

Weight and smoking cessation among low-income African Americans

BACKGROUND: Concerns about weight gain have been a commonly cited barrier to cessation among white, affluent, female populations, but less is known about this relationship among minority smokers and those with low incomes. Although smoking cessation is strongly encouraged for this population, it often leads to weight gain. Cultural differences in weight standards and the high prevalence of weight-related health conditions (e.g., hypertension and diabetes) may influence concerns about smoking cessation-related weight gain. METHODS: A secondary analysis of low-income African-American smokers (n=367) from a randomized intervention trial was conducted to explore the association of weight concerns with comorbidities and smoking cessation. RESULTS: Less than one quarter of participants were considered concerned about weight, defined as having high general concern about weight and high expectation of post-cessation weight gain. Those for whom weight gain could be riskiest--obese participants--were least concerned about gaining weight. Further, weight concerns were not associated with successful smoking cessation, quit attempts, confidence in quitting, or desire or readiness to quit. CONCLUSIONS: Because post-cessation weight gain may be a serious health threat for this population, but weight gain was not a concern for these smokers, smoking-cessation interventions for low-income African-American smokers may need to incorporate weight-gain education and prevention.     

Smoking cessation program: baseline carbon monoxide and serum thiocyanate levels as predictors of outcome

One hundred and sixty-two smokers who participated in an aggressive smoking cessation program underwent analysis of expired air carbon monoxide (CO) and serum thiocyanate (SCN) at entry and one year later. Persons who failed to quit smoking had higher baseline CO and SCN and smoked more cigarettes per day than did those who succeeded in quitting. The use of CO, SCN, number of cigarettes smoked, age, and blood pressure at baseline permitted accurate classification of over 70 per cent of the subjects into groups which would succeed and fail in their effort to quit smoking. Persons who failed to quit reduced the reported number of cigaretts smoked per day by one-third, but there was no corresponding reduction in CO and SCN, suggesting that self-reporting of a reduction in the number of cigarettes smoked may not lead to a corresponding decline in exposure.     

Changes in haemoglobin levels according to changes in body mass index and smoking habits, a 20-year follow-up of a male cohort

Haemoglobin level declines with increasing age in cross sectional studies. Little is known about the longitudinal changes of haemoglobin. Because both high or low haemoglobin levels increase mortality and morbidity we examined how changes in lifestyle factors like body mass index (BMI) and smoking habits influence cohort changes in haemoglobin level. In all, 4159 men aged 20–49 years at baseline were examined in 1974 and 1994–1995 in a longitudinal, population-based study from the municipality of Tromsø, Northern Norway. Mean haemoglobin was 148 g/l. There was no difference in mean haemoglobin after 20 years in any strata of age. Mean BMI increased 2.1 kg/m². The prevalence of smokers decreased 20.1 percentage points. In a multiple regression analysis increase in BMI was associated with increased haemoglobin change. Smoking cessation lowered mean haemoglobin 1.6 g/l compared to never smokers. Haemoglobin increased 0.8 g/l in smoking quitters whose BMI increased >2.5 kg/m² compared to a decrease of 6.7 g/l in weight reducers. There was a positive dose–response relationship between changes in cigarettes smoked per day and change in haemoglobin among consistent smokers. In conclusion, in contrast to cross sectional studies, mean haemoglobin did not change during 20 years ageing of relatively young men. This could be explained by higher BMI and less smoking. The increase in BMI affected haemoglobin change to such an extent that the reduction in haemoglobin due to smoking cessation was counteracted. Prospective studies are needed to address the health implications.     

Effect of nicotine patch on energy intake and weight gain in postmenopausal women during smoking cessation

IntroductionPost-cessation weight gain is a commonly cited barrier to smoking cessation. Some evidence suggests that nicotine replacement therapy may limit post-cessation weight gain by reducing energy intake. This project aims to assess differential changes in energy intake and body weight during smoking cessation in a sample of postmenopausal women randomized to receive 21 mg nicotine or placebo patch for 12 weeks.MethodsPostmenopausal women who smoked ≥ 10 cigarettes/day were enrolled in this double-blind randomized placebo-controlled study. Total energy intake (via four-day food diaries), body mass index (BMI; kg/m²), cigarettes/day and smoking status (self-report verified by exhaled carbon monoxide) were assessed at three time points: 2 weeks prior to quit date,12 weeks after quit date, and 12 months after smoking cessation treatment.ResultsParticipants (n = 119) were, on average, 55.8 ± 6.7 years old with a baseline BMI of 27.0 ± 5.2 and average cigarette/day was 21.1 ± 8.6. At Week 12, participants randomized to nicotine patch increased their mean caloric intake by 146.4 ± 547.7 kcal/day whereas those on placebo patch decreased their caloric intake by 175.3 ± 463.2 (f-value = 10.1, p-value = 0.002). Despite the differences in caloric intake, body weight remained similar between groups.ConclusionsThe results of this study indicate that nicotine patch may increase energy intake during treatment, and does not prevent post-cessation weight gain in postmenopausal smokers. Additional research is needed to replicate these findings and assess whether different forms of nicotine replacement therapy influence caloric intake and post-cessation weight gain in postmenopausal smokers.     

Smoking cessation and body mass index of occupationally active men: the Israeli CORDIS Study

OBJECTIVES: This study estimated weight gain after smoking cessation and identified factors attenuating this gain. METHODS: We conducted a prospective follow-up of 1209 male factory workers for 2 to 4 years. The independent variables were smoking habits. age, sports activity, education, alcohol consumption, ethnicity, duration of follow-up, and body mass index (BMI, kg/m2) at entry. The dependent variable was increase in BMI during follow-up. RESULTS: The mean age-adjusted BMI at entry into the study was 26.6 kg/m2 among past smokers and 25.4 kg/m2 among current smokers. There were no differences in BMI between those who quit less than 3 years before entry and those who quit more than 6 years before entry. During follow-up, the average increase in BMI was 0.07 kg/m2 among never smokers, 0.19 kg/m2 among smokers who had stopped smoking before entry, 0.24 kg/m2 among current smokers, and 0.99 kg/m2 among those who stopped smoking after entry. Cessation of smoking after entry predicted an increased gain in BMI; older age, a higher BMI at entry, sports activity, and alcohol consumption attenuated this gain. CONCLUSIONS: The increased rate of weight gain after smoking cessation is transient. However, the weight gained is retained for at least 6 years.     

Does parental smoking cessation discourage adolescent smoking?

BACKGROUND: We examined the relationship of smoking cessation in parents to smoking and uptake and cessation by their adolescent children. METHODS: We analyzed a cross-sectional sample of 4,502 adolescents, ages 15-17 years, who lived in two-parent households that were interviewed as part of the 1992-1993 Tobacco Supplement of the Current Population Survey, which questioned householders 15 years of age and older about their smoking history. Ever smokers reported smoking at least 100 cigarettes in their lifetime. Former smokers were ever smokers who had quit. RESULTS: Multivariate analyses, adjusted for demographic characteristics of adolescents, as well as father's age, education, and family income, found that adolescents whose parents had quit smoking were almost one-third less likely to be ever smokers than those with a parent who still smoked. Furthermore, adolescent ever smokers whose parents quit smoking were twice as likely to quit as those who had a parent who still smoked. Parental quitting is most effective in reducing initiation if it occurs before the child reaches 9 years of age. CONCLUSION: Encouraging parents to quit may be an effective method for reducing adolescent smoking, through decreased uptake and increased cessation. The earlier parents quit, the less likely their children will become smokers.     

Who stopped smoking? Results from a panel survey of living conditions in Sweden

1905 smokers were investigated from a random sample of 4424 persons among the Swedish population interviewed in 1974 and 1981. On average, 28% of those smoked in 1974 had stopped smoking by 1981. A multivariate method was used to study whether socioeconomic and demographic factors, tobacco consumption level or health contributed to changes in smoking behaviour. Most successful in smoking cessation were senior salaried employees (35% quit), well educated persons (33% quit) and those who smoked less than ten cigarettes per day (36% quit). On the other hand, only 20% of divorced parents with children succeeded in smoking cessation. Tobacco consumption turned out to be the most important variable for explaining the variance. The probability of smoking cessation increased by 40% if one smoked less than 10 cigarettes per day. The low explained variance, 6%, of this multivariate approach indicates, however, that socioeconomic factors have only marginal effects on the decision to stop smoking. It seems more likely that many factors, e.g. demographic, socioeconomic, motivational, self-efficacy, social and therapeutic support, nicotine dependence etc. act together in a complex way.     

Characteristics of smokers who enroll and quit in self-help programs

Smokers who volunteer for self-help smoking cessation programsmay be poor candidates for such minimal treatments. Throughgeneral publicity, we recruited 2021 Health Maintenance Organizationenrollees for a self-help quit smoking intervention trial. Volunteerswere mostly heavy smokers (mean 26 cigarettes/day) with a long-establishedhabit (mean 27 years), strong nicotine dependency (77% smokedtheir first cigarette of the day within 30 min of awakening)and extensive quitting histories [median of three serious quitattempts and many who had already tried group or individualquitting programs (35%), nicotine gum (25%) or quitting guides(43%)]. Self-reported, cotinine-validated, 7-day abstinencerates at 16 months follow-up were significantly higher for smokerswith lower nicotine dependency, lower cigarette brand nicotinecontent, no previous use of nicotine gum, no smoking-relatedchronic medical conditions, longer duration of previous quit,a more health promotive lifestyle with respect to alcohol anddiet, and a supportive partner, and in subjects randomized toa minimal contact telephone counseling intervention. The telephonecounseling advantage was significantly greater for smokers whoat baseline were less nicotine dependent, had not used an intensivecessation treatment, smoked higher nicotine cigarettes and hadless social support. Diffusion strategies to reach smokers withlower readiness to volunteer and triage mechanisms to screenout smokers who are poor candidates for self-help treatmentsare needed if these treatments are to achieve their potential.     

2016-2018年上海市戒烟门诊患者干预效果分析

【目的】了解上海市戒烟门诊就诊患者的一般情况、吸烟情况、戒烟情况以及1个月随访情况,为进一步有效开展戒烟门诊提供科学依据。【方法】调查2016年1月1日-2018年12月31日前往项目选定戒烟门诊就诊的841名吸烟者,并于1个月后完成725名患者的随访工作,利用SPSS软件分析收集到的相关数据。【结果】2018年就诊患者中91.3%为男性;50.6%年龄在35~55岁;57.1%学历程度在小学及以下;60.2%是企业,商业,服务业工作人员。44.1%的患者每天吸烟支数在10~20支;34.6%的患者烟龄在10~20年;38.6%的患者起床后5 min内吸第1支烟。72.1%的患者在前往戒烟门诊前尝试过戒烟;14.8%的患者使用过电子烟帮助戒烟;33.9%知晓戒烟门诊的途径是本医院医生的告知;61.4%决定戒烟的原因是关注自己和家人的健康。2018年戒烟门诊1个月的时点戒烟率为48.8%;44.0%的患者认为对戒烟帮助最大的关键是自己的决心;46.2%戒烟未成功患者认为,最大的阻碍是烟瘾发作。【结论】上海市戒烟门诊的开设能够帮助患者戒烟,但依然存在一些问题。针对前往戒烟门诊的患者特点,应及时找出戒烟门诊宣传上的薄弱点,例如女性、低文化水平以及务农职业的患者较少;依据患者吸烟的情况,切实提升戒烟门诊服务质量;找出戒烟门诊在提供再次戒烟服务过程中的切入点,更好地完善上海市戒烟门诊的建设工作。     

Comparing Computer-Tailored,Internet-Based Smoking Cessation Counseling Reports with Generic,Untailored Reports: A Randomized Trial

To assess and compare the impact on quit attempts of online computer-tailored smoking cessation counseling reports and untailored reports, we performed a randomized controlled trial on a smoking cessation website in 2007–2008. After answering a questionnaire, current and former smokers were randomly assigned to immediately receiving either an online, individually tailored counseling report or a personalized but untailored generic report. Participants were invited by e-mail to report any smoking in the previous 24 hours, 48 hours after baseline. We used an intention-to-treat analysis, where nonrespondents at follow-up were counted as smokers. There were 2,872 participants at baseline and 2,226 at follow-up (78%). At baseline, there were 76% of current smokers (mean = 18 cigarettes/day) and 24% of recent quitters (median = 7 days of abstinence). The same proportion of smokers in both study groups had made a 24-hour quit attempt at follow-up (12.1%, P = 1.0). In baseline recent quitters, lapse/relapse rates at follow-up were similar in both groups (tailored: 25.1%, untailored: 23.5%, P = 0.64). We conclude that untailored reports were as effective as tailored reports in the short term. Even though these particular computer-tailored reports were not more effective than untailored reports, meta-analyses show that computer-tailored documents are in general more effective than untailored ones.     

Cigarette smoking and cessation behaviors among urban blacks and whites

Smoking behaviors among blacks and whites were studied in a population-based sample of 2,626 residents of Minneapolis-St. Paul, MN. More blacks than whites were found to be smokers, before and after adjusting for age and education differences. More whites than blacks were former smokers, but the prevalence of those who had never smoked was comparable for whites and blacks. Among smokers, the mean number of cigarettes smoked per day was lower among blacks than whites, but more blacks were found to smoke cigarettes with high "tar" (dry particulate matter) and nicotine content. Men smokers were found to smoke more than women smokers, young people smoked more than older people, and those with a high school education or less smoked more than those with more than a high school education. Smoking cessation behavior consisted mostly of a variety of strategies that began with reducing cigarette consumption, followed by changing to lower tar brands, attempting to quit, and actually quitting. In general, a higher percentage of whites than blacks reported smoking cessation behaviors. A greater percentage of white than black women had tried cigarette brands lower in tar and nicotine within the previous year. Among men, a lower percentage of black than white smokers had tried quitting, and fewer black men planned to quit in the future. Blacks appeared to lag behind whites in their efforts to quit smoking. Smoking behavior continues to be problematic for both blacks and whites. Studies are needed to explain better the racial differences in smoking and smoking cessation behaviors, and to facilitate programs to encourage cessation.     

Waist circumference and weight following smoking cessation in a general population: the Inter99 study

OBJECTIVE: Central obesity is an independent risk factor of mortality. Change in waist circumference after smoking cessation has not been previously reported in a population-based prospective study of both sexes. METHODS: Population-based study, Inter99, 1999-2001 in Copenhagen, Denmark. 2408 daily smokers completed questionnaires and had their waist circumference and weight measured. Of these, 221 biochemically verified non-smokers and 1122 continuous smokers attended 1-year follow-up and had their waist circumference and weight measured. RESULTS: The mean increase in waist circumference was 3.88 cm (+/-5.4 cm) and 42% of the quitters had increased their waist circumference by > or = 5 cm. Quitters with high baseline tobacco consumption (OR 1.05, 95% CI=1.0-1.1) and quitters with self-reported reduced physical activity (OR 3.4, 95% CI=1.5-7.7) were more likely to have substantially increased waist circumference. The mean weight gain in quitters was 4.22 kg (+/-4.3 kg) and 41% had gained at least 5 kg. Female quitters gained more weight and had a higher increase in waist circumference than men. Abstinence from smoking was the most important predictor of substantial weight gain and substantial increase in waist circumference. CONCLUSIONS: Smoking cessation resulted in substantial increase in weight and central fat, which might attenuate some of the beneficial effects of smoking cessation. Quitters who reduced their physical activity and persons with high baseline tobacco consumption were more likely to have had a substantial increase in abdominal fat. Abstinence from smoking was the most important predictor of short-term weight gain and increase in waist circumference. It is a challenge for future smoking cessation interventions to achieve a combination of high quit rates and weight-control.     

Stages of change and other factors in 'light' cigarette smokers

BACKGROUND: It has become well known that 'light' cigarettes are deceiving in fostering the attitude that they are 'safer' or less health damaging than regular cigarettes. The goal of this study is to analyse the smoking of 'light' cigarettes according to the progress over the stages of change to stop or reduce smoking. METHODS: A sample representing the general population of a northern German region aged 18 to 64 was drawn (T1, N=4075). 1520 smokers of 'light' and regular cigarettes were identified by a face-to-face interview and reassessed longitudinally by questionnaire 30 months later (T2, n=913). RESULTS: At baseline smokers of 'light' cigarettes, in particular males, were more likely to be contemplators or preparators in terms of smoking cessation. Those who smoked 'light' cigarettes were more likely to have made a quit attempt, were more likely to be female, at younger age, never married, higher educated and less nicotine dependent compared to smokers of regular cigarettes. The follow-up data shows that males who smoked 'light' before or changed to 'light' cigarettes were more likely to contemplate or to prepare quitting, had more often tried a quit attempt and stopped smoking more often. CONCLUSION: The results suggest that 'light' cigarettes especially by males are used for reasons of reducing or quitting smoking. It is concluded that as such they deceive the smoker and potentially hinder the process of reducing or quitting.     

Differences in resting energy expenditure between black and white smokers: implications for postcessation weight gain

OBJECTIVE: To examine differences in resting energy expenditure (REE) between black and white smokers in order to determine whether REE might contribute to postcessation weight gain. DESIGN: Cross-sectional and prospective investigation of ethnic differences in REE. Differences in REE between black and white smokers were examined at baseline while all participants were smoking, and again during 2 weeks of abstinence from smoking. SETTING: Memphis, Tennessee, USA. SUBJECTS: Sixty-six black and 112 white smokers (age 30.4 y; cigarettes per day 21.4; weight 71.7 kg; body mass index 24.5 kg/m2). RESULTS: Black smokers had a significantly lower baseline REE after adjusting for gender and body weight. Changes in REE following smoking cessation did not differ by ethnicity. CONCLUSIONS: These results suggest that black smokers may be more energy efficient, which could contribute to ethnic differences in postcessation weight gain.     

Dependency, social factors, and the smoking cessation process: the doctors helping smokers study

We analyzed data obtained from a representative sample of the smoking patients (n = 1,338) of 66 family physicians to determine predictors of attempts to stop smoking, desire to quit smoking, and successful smoking cessation. Compared to subjects who made no attempt to quit smoking, subjects who tried to quit smoking tended to be younger, had tried to quit smoking in the year prior to the study, waited longer before smoking their first cigarette of the day, had more desire to quit smoking, and had more social support for quitting. Education and cigarettes smoked per day were not independently related to the subject making a quit attempt. Desire to quit smoking was associated with an attempt to quit in the year prior to the study and social support for smoking cessation (support of spouse, second most important social contact, and physician). Desire to quit smoking was not independently related to age, education, or dependency on cigarettes (measured by the number of cigarettes smoked per day and the length of time a subject waited before smoking the first cigarette of the day). Compared to subjects who tried to quit and failed, subjects who succeeded were older, smoked fewer cigarettes per day, and waited longer to smoke their first cigarette of the day. Spouse support, support of the second most important social contact, and advice of a doctor to quit smoking were not independently related to whether or not a cessation attempt would be successful. These data suggest that successful smoking cessation requires two components: social support to make an attempt to quit and the ability to overcome dependency on cigarettes to make the attempt successful.     

天津市戒烟门诊158名就诊吸烟者戒烟状况调查

目的 了解天津市戒烟门诊就诊吸烟者的人群特点、吸烟情况、戒烟情况,为更有效的开展戒烟门诊服务提供科学依据。方法 调查前来三家戒烟门诊就诊的158名吸烟者,并于一个月后进行随访。结果 就诊吸烟者中50%(79/158)是通过医生推荐或转诊至戒烟门诊,47.5%(75/158)决定戒烟的原因是自身患病,59.5%(94/158)的人尝试过戒烟;就诊吸烟者的平均烟龄为19.5年,平均每日吸烟量为16.3支;一个月随访的应答率为86.7%(137/158),一个月随访的时点戒烟率为43.1%(59/137),未戒烟者的一个月时点减烟率为56.4%(44/78);27.0%(37/137)的人认为医生或药物对其戒烟帮助最大。结论 天津市戒烟门诊能提高吸烟者的戒烟率,但目前就诊人数较少,还应继续加大戒烟门诊的宣传力度。     

Cigarette smoking and the risk of the metabolic syndrome in middle-aged Japanese male office workers

To examine the association between cigarette smoking and the risk of the metabolic syndrome (MS), 3649 Japanese male office workers aged 35-59 yr who did not have a history of cardiovascular disease were enrolled in this study. 2994 men without the MS at entry were followed up over a 7-yr period. A modified National Cholesterol Education Program definition with body mass index instead of waist circumference was used for the MS. With adjustment for age, family history of diabetes, alcohol intake, and regular physical activity, the odds ratios of the MS were 1.0 (referent), 1.30 (95% confidence interval (CI), 1.00-1.68), 1.07 (95% CI, 0.82-1.39), 1.17 (95% CI, 0.88-1.56), and 1.66 (95% CI, 1.24-2.20) for never smokers, ex-smokers, and those who smoked 1-20 cigarettes/d, 21-30 cigarettes/d, and > or =31 cigarettes/d, respectively (P for trend for current smokers only =0.006). As for the risk of developing the MS, the respective multivariate-adjusted hazard ratios of developing the MS were 1.0 (referent), 1.43 (95% CI, 1.14-1.79), 1.14 (95% CI, 0.91-1.44), 1.45 (95% CI, 1.14-1.84), and 1.59 (95% CI, 1.24-2.05) (P for trend for current smokers only =0.001). Among men without the MS at entry, body weight gain over 7 yr, compared with never smokers, was significantly higher in smokers who quit smoking. It is important for the prevention of the MS not only to quit smoking but also to prevent weight gain after smoking cessation.     

Changes in smoking among restaurant and bar employees following Norway's comprehensive smoking ban

Norway implemented a nationwide ban on indoor smoking in June 2004. This study documents the smoking patterns of Norway's restaurant and bar workers before and after the ban, to determine changes in smoking prevalence and explore which individual and environmental characteristics were related to cessation. A national sample of food service workers was surveyed by telephone or Internet immediately before the ban and at 4 and 11 months post-implementation. Results showed that between baseline measurement and 4 months post-implementation, there were significant declines in prevalence of daily smoking (-3.6% points, p < 0.005), daily smoking at work (-6.2% points, p < 0.001), number of cigarettes smoked by continuing smokers (-1.55, p < 0.001) and number of cigarettes smoked at work by continuing smokers (-1.63, p < 0.001). No significant changes occurred in any of these variables between 4 and 11 months post-implementation. Logistic regression analysis revealed that only smokers' intentions at baseline to quit within 30 days predicted cessation at both follow-up time points. In addition, cessation at 4 months was predicted by lower daily cigarette consumption at baseline, whereas cessation at 11 months was predicted by baseline attitude toward ETS and exposure to ETS as measured at follow-up. In sum, Norway's smoking ban was accompanied by a reduction in smoking in the period immediately following the ban, and the reduction was maintained almost a year later. The finding that smoking cessation was consistently associated with smokers' intentions to quit within 30 days suggests that motivational and support programs could play a significant role in boosting cessation rates. It is recommended that targeted interventions be used to supplement the benefits of a comprehensive ban to achieve tobacco control objectives.     

Women Gain Weight 1 Year After Smoking Cessation While Dietary Intake Temporarily Increases

Objective To examine the relationship of dietary change to weight change in women who quit smoking and remained abstinent for 1 year.Methods For 1 year, 582 women participating in smoking cessation classes were studied. Weight, diet, and physical activity were measured at baseline and at 1, 6, and 12 months after smoking cessation. Multivariate regression models were used to predict 1-year weight change for the 139 women who remained abstinent.Results Women gained, on average, 9.9 lb over a 1-year period while increasing their intake of energy for 1 and 6 months but returning to baseline levels by 1 year. Sucrose, total carbohydrate, and fat intake increased significantly for the first month; fat and total carbohydrate intake remained at an increased level for 6 months. In unadjusted analyses, older women and those who smoked more cigarettes gained more weight than younger women and lighter smokers; lighter and heavier women gained more weight than women of intermediate weight. In adjusted analyses, age remained a significant factor and number of cigarettes remained of borderline significance. Change in energy intake was predictive of weight change only in women with the highest energy intake at baseline.Applications Dietitians should acknowledge that most women who quit smoking gain weight in the short term. Although many women increase their energy intake, change in energy level is only one factor in weight change. Over the long term, women with high baseline intakes appear to be able to affect their weight change by reducing their energy intake. J Am Diet Assoc. 1996; 96:1150-1155.