Smoking cessation and weight gain in smokers participating in a behavioral treatment at 3-year follow-up

This study assessed the weight gain for the short- and long-term (36 mo. follow-up) in a sample of 158 smokers (71 men and 87 women), who participated in a multicomponent behavioral smoking-cessation program. Weight was evaluated with a self-reported questionnaire, with an over-all mean pretreatment weight of 65.3 Kg (SD=12.6). All individuals tended to gain weight. Afterwards, the mean for quitters (n=42) increased by 2.0 Kg at 36-mo. follow-up and the mean for nonquitters (n=116) by 0.6 Kg. Among abstinent people no significant differences were found by sex at 36 mo. but significant mean differences were found in those subjects (quitters) older than 35 yr. who gained 4.1 Kg compared with 1.2 Kg in the group 35 yr. or younger.