Why you might gain weight


	Why You Might Gain Weight After Quitting
	Not everyone who quits smoking gains weight. In fact, about 25 percent of people who quit end up losing weight. Of the people who do gain weight, the average amount is five pounds. Typically, people who smoke heavily and who are older gain more weight compared to lighter users and young adults. Pack Fact: After one year, the average weight of a person who has quit smoking is the same as the average weight of a person who never smoked. There are several reasons why you might gain weight when you quit: Your metabolism slows down. Your sense of taste and smell return to normal. Your appetite returns to normal. Food can suppress cravings for cigarettes. You replace the oral pleasure of smoking with food. Quit Tip: Watch out for eating fatty and sweet foods as a way of suppressing nicotine cravings. Instead, try using lower calorie substitutes like fruits and vegetables. Some unfortunate quitters gain as much as 20 to 30 pounds. Why this occurs is not fully understood, but it probably has something to do with genetics; obesity tends to run in the families of these people. This happens to about 10% of people who quit smoking. Quit Tip: If you have tried to quit and gained 20 to 30 pounds, consider prescription medications that can prevent excess weight gain. These can be safely used together with nicotine replacement therapy, a sensible eating program, and exercise. Be sure to read the other articles in this section. There are some really good suggestions on how to avoid excessive weight gain. Also, send us an e-mail and let us know how you are doing. Good luck! We know you can do it!