When you stop smoking you gain weight

Weight gain may occur when quitting cigarettes because:

• the sense of taste improves, because cigarette products damage taste buds;
• food and beverages may be the substitutes for the oral satisfaction which cigarettes had previously provided;
• cigarette smoking increases the body's metabolic rate, which will slow again when smoking is stopped. When smoking is stopped, the main things to do to avoid gaining body weight are:
• have low energy (kilojoule) snacks and beverages available;
• avoid situations where there are 'problem' foods high in kilojoules;
• exercise regularly as this helps appetite control and increases expenditure of energy (kilocalories) as well.