Why do people put on weight when they stop smoking?
When people smoke the nicotine from cigarettes releases a chemical called seratonin in your brain. Seratonin is an appetite suppressant, so when someone smokes they sometimes don't want to eat as much. Hence, when they stop smoking you may find that people crave certain foods - many people find that they want to eat more sweet foods. Also, within 2 days of stopping smoking the sense of taste and smell improves, so that is another reason food starts to taste better.

Will I gain weight if I stop smoking?
Not everyone gains weight when they stop smoking. Among people who do, the average weight gain is between 2-4kg. Roughly 10 percent of people who stop smoking gain a large amount of weight (>13kg).

What can be done about putting on weight?
It's important to remember that someone would have to gain a considerable amount of weight to offset the health benefits of quitting. But to avoid overeating, high fat snacks like biscuits and cakes should be avoided, and snacking on fruit and vegetables encouraged instead. There is some evidence that quitters who use NRT gum can halve their rate of weight gain, which may be something to bear in mind when thinking about stopping.

What if I do gain weight?
If you put on a kilo or two temporarily, try not to be too hard on yourself. Concentrate on your resolve to give up smoking and then tackle the weight gain. But do try to eat healthy foods and get some extra exercise. One or two extra kilos temporarily is a lot less harmful than smoking.

If you think weight gain is a problem, discuss it with your doctor. Remember, starting to smoke again may not help you lose the weight you have gained.