Managing post-cessation weight gain

Weight gain is a common consequence of stopping smoking but many experts in smoking cessation play this down – often, the advice given to clients about possible weight gain and weight management strategies are inaccurate.

The aim of this briefing was to summarise the evidence for practitioners, making clear where there are uncertainties.

It is based on Medline searches, examination of systematic reviews, a Cochrane review on preventing weight gain on smoking cessation, and clinical experience.

Whilst the briefing’s conclusion – that stopping smoking before addressing weight gain is reasonable advice for many – still stands, it uses data that is not current. It remains accessible in our archive.