Why Do We Gain Weight When We Stop Smoking?

Author: Joe Fowler Time for reading: ~1 minutes Last Updated: August 08, 2022

Why Do We Gain Weight When We Stop Smoking?

It turns out that smoking stimulates genes involved in the breakdown of fats ...

It is clear to most people who have tried to quit smoking that after giving up the habit, a new problem arises - unbridled hunger and rapidly gaining weight.

Nicotine has been shown to suppress appetite. This is also the main argument of heavy smokers not to give up cigarettes.

In addition, smoking speeds up metabolism and burns calories. Quitting cigarettes inevitably leads to a slowdown in metabolism and hence to weight gain.

In search of an answer to the question why we gain weight after quitting smoking, scientists turned their attention to gene expression. Apparently, smoking stimulates genes involved in the breakdown of fats.

Studies show that compared to non-smokers, a group of healthy smokers found higher activity of the AZGP1 gene in airway cells. Given its role in breaking down fat and controlling body weight, this may be the reason for the lower weight of nicotine lovers compared to non-smokers. It is also most likely responsible for bidding after quitting.

Various reasons have been put forward in this regard. It is known that after quitting smoking, the emphasis is on breakfast. At the same time, the metabolism slows down. In studies in mice, AZGP1 was found to be responsible for weight control. In cachexia associated with cancer, its activity is also increased.

Of course, these data do not mean that weight gain is just a matter of genetics. Certainly modifiable factors such as diet and exercise are also involved in the pathogenesis.

Why Do We Gain Weight When We Stop Smoking?

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