It is widely known that smoking is one of the leading causes of comorbidity in the UK. However, as the BBC stated in an article posted on 11 July 2012, giving up smoking can cause a higher level of weight gain than originally thought, with 13 per cent of former smokers gaining up to 10 kilograms within the first year of quitting.
Weight gain can occur due to smoking being replaced by “comfort eating”. This brings the dilemma to those considering giving up: “which is worse, continuing to smoke or potentially putting on weight?”
Even if a smoker has a high history of smoking, giving up can prolong life and reduce the age-related decline in lung function. Improvement in lung function can also improve after the first year. Risk of heart problems and strokes can also be hugely reduced. According to ‘Healthy Lives, Healthy People: A Tobacco Control Plan for England (2011)' from the Department of Health, the estimated number of years of life gained by stopping smoking at different stages is shown below: