Smoking cessation, weight gain, and changes in cardiovascular risk factors during menopause: The healthy women study

Objectives. The relationship between smoking cessation, subsequent weight gain, and cardiovascular disease risk factors from premenopause to postmenopause was studied Methods: Healthy Women Study participants were assessed for changes in coronary heart disease risk factors from a premenopausal baseline assessment to first- and second-year postmenopausal assessments. Results. Although ex-smokers gained substantially more weight than nonsmokers and smokers, they did not experience a greater increase in cardiovascular risk factors. In fact, the results indicated a trend toward ex-smokers' high-density lipoprotein cholesterol levels increasing slightly more than those of nonsmokers and smokers. Conclusions. Smoking cessation in perimenopausal to postmenopausal women is associated With greater weight gain but appears to be modestly associated with certain positive changes in cardiovascular risk factors.