Change of Body Weight and Body ComPosition after Smoking Cessation in Males

Ahn, Sung Ryul; Lee, Sangyeoup; Min, Hong Gi; Choi, Sang Han; Kim, Young Joo; Kim, Yun Jin

Abstract

BACKGROUND: There are very few studies on change in body composition after smoking cessation. The purpose of our study was to assess the change in body composition as well as body weight after smoking cessation in men.
METHODS
The subjects were 203 men who had received health examination from May in 2000 to April in 2001 on their first visit, and then from May in 2001 to May in 2002 on their second visit, at the department of family medicine of a university hospital. They were divided into groups of non-smokers, current smokers, and former smokers by smoking status. Their past medical history, obesity indexes, smoking status, physical activity, and nutrition intake were reviewed. Body composition of the study subjects was assessed by bioelectrical impedance analysis.
RESULTS
After adjustment for age, nutrition intake, and physical activity as confounding factors, former smokers' body weight was significantly increased by 1.8+/-0.4 kg on second visit compared to non-smokers and current smokers. There was a significant difference in body muscle change between first and second visit, but not in body fat change among former smokers. Former smokers' body fat and muscle were significantly increased by 0.9+/-0.3 kg and 0.8+/-0.4 kg, respectively, compared to non-smokers. Former smokers' waist circumference was significantly increased by 2.5+/-0.7 cm on second visit compared with non-smokers and current smokers.
CONCLUSION
In former smokers, body weight was increased by 1.8 kg after smoking cessation, which was attributed to increase of body muscle as well as body fat. Compared with non-smokers, former smokers' body muscle and fat were significantly increased on second visit.