The Effect of Tobacco Cessation on Weight Gain, Obesity, and Diabetes Risk

Objective: Most smokers gain weight after quitting, and some develop new onset obesity and type 2 diabetes. The purpose of this paper is to synthesize the current science investigating the consequences of tobacco cessation on body weight and diabetes, as well as intervention strategies that minimize or prevent weight gain while still allowing for successful tobacco cessation. Methods: Systematic reviews and relevant studies that were published since prior reviews were selected. Results: Smoking cessation can cause excessive weight gain in some individuals and can be associated with clinically significant outcomes such as diabetes or obesity onset. Interventions that combine smoking cessation and weight control can be effective for improving cessation and minimizing weight gain but need to be tested in specific populations. Conclusions: Despite the health benefits of quitting tobacco, post-cessation weight gain and new onset obesity and diabetes are a significant concern. Promising interventions may need to be more widely applied to reduce the consequences of both obesity and tobacco use.