Open randomised trial of intermittent very low energy diet together with nicotine gum for stopping smoking in women who gained weight in previous attempts to quit.
OBJECTIVE
To determine whether attempts to prevent weight gain will increase success rates for stopping smoking.


METHODS
16 week, open, randomised study with 1 year follow up.


METHODS
Obesity unit.


METHODS
287 female smokers who had quit smoking before but started again because of weight concerns.


METHODS
Combination of a standard smoking cessation programme with nicotine gum and a behavioural weight control programme including a very low energy diet. A control group was treated with the identical programme but without the diet.


METHODS
Sustained cessation of smoking.


RESULTS
After 16 weeks, 68/137 (50%) women had stopped smoking in the diet group versus 53/150 (35%) in the control group (P=0.01). Among these women, weight fell by mean 2.1 (95% confidence interval 2.9 to 1.3) kg in the diet group but increased by 1.6 (0.9 to 2.3) kg in the control group (P<0.001). After 1 year the success rates in the diet and control groups were 38/137 (28%) and 24/150 (16%) respectively (P<0.05), but there was no statistical difference in weight gain.


CONCLUSIONS
Combining the smoking cessation programme with an intervention to control weight helped women to stop smoking and control weight.
Danielsson
T
T
Obesity Unit, Karolinska Hospital, S-171 76 Stockholm, Sweden. tobias.danielsson@medhs.ki.se
Rössner
S
S
Westin
A
A
D002638:Chewing Gum; D004032:Diet; D002149:Energy Intake; D005260:Female; D006261:Headache / Q000209:etiology; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D009538:Nicotine / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D010349:Patient Compliance; D012220:Rhinitis / Q000209:etiology; D016540:Smoking Cessation / Q000379:methods*; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D015430:Weight Gain
D002638:Chewing Gum; D009538:Nicotine