Cigarette Side Effects: Why does weight increase after quitting smoking?

Cigarette Side Effects: Smoking cigarettes causes many types of harm to the body. But even after quitting it, side effects of smoking can be seen in the form of obesity in the body. 

Why has your weight suddenly increased after quitting cigarettes? If yes, then this article is for you. Here you can understand the relationship between your obesity and smoking. According to a recent study, researchers found that smokers eat less than non-smokers and their diet is also less nutritious, due to which they gain weight after quitting smoking.

The study, conducted by researchers at Loughborough University and the University of Leicester, included more than 80,000 adults in the United Kingdom. This study was presented at the European Congress on Obesity (ECO). 

Why does weight increase after quitting smoking?

Although smokers generally have a lower weight and body mass index (BMI) than non-smokers, weight gain often occurs after quitting smoking. Studies show that smokers use cigarettes to control appetite and weight.

cigarettes don't make you feel hungry

Nicotine present in tobacco can suppress appetite. Researchers analyzed data from 83,000 adults aged 18 or older collected between 2004 and 2022. The results showed that smokers were twice as likely to skip meals as non-smokers and were also more likely to go without food for long periods. He usually ate less food in a day and had difficulty in discarding leftovers.

There is no need to eat for a long time

Analysis taking into account age, gender, and socio-economic status found that smokers were twice as likely to skip meals as non-smokers, and 50 times more likely to go without food for more than three hours. % was higher. At the same time, smokers were 35% less likely to snack between meals. Interestingly, they were less likely to eat sweets between meals, but consumed more fried food and also had the habit of adding salt and sugar to their food.

Study Conclusion

Lead researcher Dr. Scott Willis, of Loughborough University in the UK, said: "Our study shows that smoking is associated with eating less food and eating behaviors with poor diet quality, including eating fried foods more often and adding more salt and sugar to food. This helps in understanding why people start paying more attention to their weight after quitting smoking.