Do We Really Gain Weight When We Stop Smoking?

Table of contents:

Do We Really Gain Weight When We Stop Smoking?
Do We Really Gain Weight When We Stop Smoking?
Anonim

Smoking is a common occurrence among people today. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), more than 5.6 million people die prematurely each year from tobacco-related diseases. Many people are afraid of them to stop smoking due to a number of factors, the biggest of which is gaining weight.

Really what happens in the body after smoking cessation?

This question is answered by the British doctor Dr. Dan Rutherford in a publication for the Daily Telegraph. Many smokers gain weight after quitting because of one of the abilities of nicotine - namely the suppression of appetite. According to Dr. Rutherford, according to WHO research, an average of 4-5 kg is gained in the first year. For most people, this happens in the first 3-6 months.

The trend for weight gain after quitting it is not one-way for everyone. On the contrary, 16% of people who quit smoking actually lose weight.

Do we really gain weight when we stop smoking?
Do we really gain weight when we stop smoking?

Weight gain or loss is affected by nicotine and the chemicals contained in tobacco smoke, which affect our hormones and metabolism in different ways.

After quitting smoking, people need a substitute for cigarettes. The easiest option is of course eating. According to a study, the body produces more insulin in the first 3 months of quitting. This makes us need more sugar. The fastest way for the body to get this sugar is through sweets, desserts and more carbohydrates.

Precisely because of these sugars is gaining weight. This period lasts a maximum of 6 months and, if you know about it, you can consciously control it. In the gradual quitting cigarettes and when using additional withdrawal stimulants (pills, nicotine patches, special chewing gums and sprays), the gain is less than those that stop abruptly and all at once.

In fact, often the problem with weight after quitting is psychological. According to nutritionist Svetlana Berezhnaya, by giving up cigarettes, a person begins to feel the tastes and aromas more strongly, which makes him eat more. An option is to replace white flour and candy with wholemeal bread and high-fiber products. At the beginning of the period, avoid consuming spicy foods - they excite the taste buds, which are reminiscent of cigarettes.

Do we really gain weight when we stop smoking?
Do we really gain weight when we stop smoking?

According to doctors around the world, changes in weight are intermittent and argue that in terms of health benefits, quitting smoking is much more important than the risk of gaining weight. Do not hesitate!

Recommended: