Quitting Smoking Packs on More Pounds Than Thought, University of Paris Study

Quitting smoking may be associated with gaining more weight than previously thought, according to a new study. Still, kicking the habit is a healthy trade-off, researchers said. In the year after quitting, people gained an average of 8 to 11 pounds, the study found. This amount is higher than what pamphlets on quitting smoking suggest (typically, around 6 pounds), and is also higher than the weight gain most women report they would tolerate (5 pounds), according to the study, published online today (July 10) in the British Medical Journal.