Stop smoking without gaining weight

Some key questions:

Q. Should I give up and go on a diet at the same time?
A. The evidence suggests that it is better to tackle smoking as your first priority and then tackle the issue of weight gain if you need to.

Q. Will I put on weight if I give up smoking?
A. Not necessarily. Some people do gain weight, some stay the same and some even lose weight. Those who do put on weight usually only put on a few pounds and lose them within a matter of months.

Q. Does it matter?
A. Ask yourself how much it matters if you put on a little weight. People come in all shapes and sizes. You may be a slim leggy model or muscular sportsman, but the likelihood is that you (like most of us) are not. If you are comfortable with the way you look and the way you eat, you will probably find it easier to control your weight.

Q. Why do some people put on weight when they give up smoking?
A. Smoking can reduce appetite; food may taste better, so you eat more; some people smoke at the end of a meal, so a cigarette is replaced by a second helping; some ex-smokers find that they want to eat more sweet things. A further reason is physical changes in the body. Smoking causes the body to waste some of the energy in food. When you give up smoking the body returns to its normal state and needs less food energy.

Q. Does this mean that I'll have to eat less than before?
A. Not necessarily, but if you continue to eat exactly what you ate before you stopped smoking then you should not put on much weight. But everyone can control their weight through exercise and good diet. It may mean eating differently - not less.

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