Predictors of marked weight gain in a population of health care and industrial workers following smoking cessation

Abstract

Background: Concerns about postcessational weight gain might hamper rather than encourage smokers to quit smoking. Methods: We conducted a comprehensive multi-institutional smoking cessation program for health care and industrial workers (n∈=∈654) employed at University Hospital Basel (Switzerland) and two local health industry companies (Novartis International AG, F. Hoffmann-La Roche AG). The program contained counselling with an option of pharmacological support. Changes in body weight were observed during 24 months of follow-up. Factors associated with longitudinal weight gain (>5 % of baseline weight) were identified by cox-regression analysis. Results: In 51 % of permanent quitters no significant changes of mean body weight were observed after 12 (0.52 kg, SD ±2.87 kg) and 24 months (0.40 kg, SD∈±∈2.99 kg). Marked weight gain following smoking cessation was characterized by a wide margin of changes. In more than a half of former smokers (58 %) weight increases were moderate (<5 kg), whereas excessive increases (>10 kg) were seen in only 10 % of quitters. Lower baseline BMI (HR 0.60, 95 % CI 0.40- 0.80, p∈=∈0.03), daily consumption of less than ten cigarettes (HR 0.53, 95 % CI 0.27- 0.63, p∈=∈0.04) and ischemic cardiopathy (HR 0.21, 95 % CI 0.07-0.62; p∈