Scandinavian Journal of Public Health, 2009; 37: 774–777 SHORT COMMUNICATION Do quitters have anything to lose? Changes in body mass index for daily, never, and former smokers over an 11-year period (1990–2001)

Aims: The purpose of the present study was to examine whether body mass index (BMI) trajectories differed between daily smokers, never smokers, and former daily smokers among a population-based sample over an 11-year period. Methods: A cohort of 1,166 adults (n 579 men; n 587 women) self-reported BMI during a general health interview twice administered in two regions in Norway. Of the participants, 37.5 % were never smokers, 31.6 % current smokers, and 31% were former smokers. Results: Those who had quit smoking within the past five years had the highest age-adjusted BMI increase, gaining 3 kg and 5 kg more weight on average than current smokers (women and men, respectively). No significant differences in weight gain over the 11-year period existed between never smokers and former smokers who had quit five years ago. Conclusions: Our finding that former daily smokers ( five years since quitting) demonstrated equivalent BMI increases to never smokers (1990–2001) is in line with evidence suggesting that the average body weight of quitters tends to stabilize over time to levels of never smokers. As post-cessation weight gain often represents a barrier to successful quitting, improved knowledge about the temporal and variable effects of smoking cessation on long-term weight outcome may strengthen motivational enhancement and relapse prevention efforts