Negative Effects of Weight Gain from Quitting Do not Negate Health Benefits of Quitting Smoking

Significant weight gain and a temporary increased risk of developing diabetes when quitting smoking does not negate the overall health benefits of stopping, according to research published in The New England Journal of Medicine. 

The study combined data from three cohort studies over a 19-year period that included 171,150 men and women in the United States. Recent quitters (between two and six years) were at a greater risk for type 2 diabetes (hazard ratio 1.22) than current smokers. This risk was greatest five to seven years after quitting and then declined. There was no increased risk in those who quit and did not gain weight. 

And as expected, the best predictor of all-cause death is smoking… it is wicked strong. So the next result of today: if you smoke, quit. If you quit you might gain weight. If you gain weight, you may get type 2 diabetes. Don't worry- still quit pic.twitter.com/PoogSCqA4v

— Ethan J. Weiss (@ethanjweiss) August 15, 2018

However, even among those who gained weight after quitting smoking, there was no short-term increase in mortality. 

Quitters who gained weight were still at less of a risk of dying from cardiovascular disease than current smokers. Hazard ratios were 0.69 for recent quitters who did not gain weight, 0.47 for those with minimal weight gain (0.1 to 5.0 kg), 0.25 for those with moderate weight gain (5.1 to 10 kg), 0.33 for those with significant weight gain (> 10 kg), and 0.50 for long-term quitters (>six years since quitting). 

Smoking cessation, weight gain, #T2D and risk factors:
1. Even w/ weight gain & risk of #T2D, smokers who quit wind up healthier.
2. Control of risk factors w/ #diabetes-> less adverse cardiovascular outcomes.https://t.co/SKqTAozwGJ <-editorial aptly summarizes the key findings pic.twitter.com/wZ6cqUtnLZ

— Eric Topol (@EricTopol) August 15, 2018

“Similar associations were observed for death from any cause,” the researchers said. 

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 40 million adults in the U.S. smoke cigarettes. Smoking is the number one cause of preventable disease, disability, and death nationwide. It is responsible for over 480,000 deaths every year – about 1,300 daily. 

Within 2 weeks to 3 months after quitting smoking, your lung function starts to improve and your risk of heart attack begins to drop. You can learn more about the benefits of quitting at: https://t.co/eb5QBJ8eBW https://t.co/l8o7aa6YjJ

— CDC Tobacco Free (@CDCTobaccoFree) August 10, 2018

“The finding that the elevated risk only lasts for 5 to 7 years should be seen as reassuring,” study author Qi Sun, MD, told MedPage Today. “There are a lot of health benefits associated with stopping smoking, and the diabetes risk is modifiable by keeping weight gain to a minimum.” 

“Smokers should quit because the long-term benefits are clear,” Sun added. 

Sources: MedPage Today, New England Journal of Medicine