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Tobacco smoking increases the likelihood of being overweight, as shown by a study carried out at the Department of Preventive Medicine of University of Navarra and published in the latest issue of the Revista Española de Cardiología. The researchers who conducted the study analyzed more than 7,500 participants during a period of just over four years in the SUN (University of Navarra Diet and Lifestyle Tracking Program) Project, financed in this case by the Carlos III Health Institute.

Participants who quit smoking during follow-up showed a greater relative weight gain, with some difference between sexes: over 1.5 kilos in men and about 1.0 kilo in women. In addition, active smokers had higher weight gain than those who were never smokers: about 0.5 kg in men and 0.36 kg in women.

The fact that participants who continued smoking also gained weight is what most surprised us. This once again shows just how harmful tobacco is to humans. With this in mind, even though smokers who quit gain weight, this fact is considerably compensated by avoiding the harm that smoking causes.

Preasons as to why tobacco smoking is related to weight gain are purely speculative. All the details are not known, but in most cases there is a common denominator: they are people with less willpower when it comes to looking after their health. All of the participants in the study know that smoking is harmful (the majority of the participants are health professionals,) but still admit that they are unable to quit. Following this train of thought, it is plausible to assume that they''re not too worried about having gained weight.

Emphasizing prevention

By preventing smoking we are moving away from two key cardiovascular risk factors: smoking and obesity. Although at present this connection is being taken into account in prevention programs, experts are calling for the implementation of more prevention policies in general health politics.

The knowledge and intervention, both of cardiologists and family physicians, regarding the prevention of these risk factors is increasing more than significantly. But there are some gaps in general policies, such as why tobacco prices have not gone up in Spain or why the tax policy has not been changed on foods that lead to.

Source: University of Navarra