Association between post-cessation weight gain and eating behavior changes

Abstract

OBJECTIVE:

Fear of post-cessation weight gain may be a barrier to cessation therapy or may lead to smoking relapse. This study aimed to evaluate the relationship between the change in eating behavior and post-cessation weight gain.

METHODS:

A prospective study that included 103 cigarette smokers, who visited the family medicine clinics of a training and research hospital for smoking cessation treatment between June 2018 and December 2018, was planned. A face to face survey (including Turkish version of Dutch Eating Behaviour Questionnaire-DEBQ and weight measures) was applied to all individuals at first and the final visits for the assessment of restrained, emotional, and external eating behaviors. Statistical analyses were completed using the IBM SPSS Statistics 22 program.

RESULTS:

Of 103 patients screened (M age=38.3 years SD=9.28), 58.3% were male, and 40.8% were in heavy nicotine dependence level (NDL) group. The mean weight increased by 4.74±2.63 kg in three months of smoking cessation. In the high NDL group, three subscales score (restrained p<0.001, emotional p=0.007, external p=0.005) of the DEBQ increased. Weight gain was significative associated with NDL (p=0.01). There was a positive correlation between Fagerstrom score and weight (kg) gain (r: 0.34; p=0.001). Weight change according to the emotional eating behavior was significantly different by gender (female p=0.005; male p=0.04). Women had a higher difference in emotional eating behavior score than men. Obese smokers had a higher initial restrained eating score than non-obese smokers (p=0.009). Weight gain of nicotine replacement therapy group had a similar result in the pharmacotherapy (varenicline) group (p=0.26). Both of treatment types concluded with a significant weight change (p=0.001).

CONCLUSION:

This study obtained that post-cessation weight gain is related to high nicotine dependence, and quit smoking causes increased scores of emotional, restrained, external eating behavior subscales. Post-cessation eating behavior is negatively affected by quit smoking.

Global estimated prevalence among the adult population was 15.2% for daily tobacco smoking in 2015 [1]. Nicotine dependence and cessation treatments are critical parts of reducing tobacco use. WHO (World Health Organization) offers cessation treatment services as a major part of primary health care [2]. Anyone who smokes once is a candidate for addiction, and nicotine addiction is a public health problem causing the burden of chronic illness.

Even if smokers want to quit smoking, the unwanted consequences of quitting can be discouraging. Weight gain is one of the disadvantages of smoking cessation. It is a widely-held concern of both the public at large and health professionals [3, 4]. It is not probable to negate the health benefits of quit smoking, but its cosmetic effects may prevent attempts to cessation [4]. Fear of weight gain may be a negative side effect or may lead to loss of motivation and cause relapse [5, 6]. Findings showed that cessation might be related to a greater fear of weight gain among lean women. Similarly, another cohort study found in both sexes a positive relationship between BMI and smoking cessation [7]. On the other hand, another study defined that among former smoking women, the data did not show higher odds of overweight or obesity than among female never smokers [8].

Although the anorectic or hunger effects of nicotine has not been proved, nicotine reduces food consumption and raises basal metabolic rate [9]. Nicotine addicts may be at higher risk of hyperthyroidism more than nonsmokers, which may increase metabolic rate [10]. Weight change after quitting is with around 16% losing weight while 13% gain more than 10 kg and weight gain mechanism is not predictable. Time in the first three months of cessation is the highest period of the rating of weight gain [11].

This present study aimed to define the relationship between eating behavior change and post-cessation weight change in nicotine addicts. We hypothesized that the negative effects of post-cessation eating behavior causes weight gain and may predict with the DEBQ scale in the clinic.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Participants

This was a prospective study that included 103 cigarette smokers successfully achieved smoking abstinence. Clinical and demographic information on patients seen at family medicine clinics of a teaching and research hospital for smoking cessation therapy were supplied from face to face survey, including DEBQ and FTND scales. The patients were followed on their first visit and 4, 8, and 12 weeks after that and treated with nicotine replacement therapy (nicotine patch/gum) or varenicline.

Selection Criteria

All patients who met the following inclusion criteria were involved in this study:

• 18 years of age and older smokers who applied for smoking cessation treatment

• To take cessation treatment between June 15, 2018 and December 15, 2018.

• To succeed in treatment and no smoking for three months during therapy.

Patients were excluded from this study if the patients had:

• An active psychiatric disease

• Prior diagnosis of any eating disorders

• Bariatric surgery history

• Received or recommended medical nutrition therapy or diet

• Any other substance abuse

Measures

Weight: A digital platform scale was used to measure body weight.

Body Mass Index (BMI): The formula of kg/m2 [weight/(height)2] was used to calculate BMI. Participants were categorized according to initial BMI (non-obese: <30 kg/m² and obese: ≥30.0 kg/m²).

Dutch Eating Behavior Questionnaire (DEBQ): DEBQ is a 33-item self-report measure with three scales: measuring external eating (externality), emotional eating (emotionality) and restrained eating behavior (restraint) [12]. Emotional eating is a response that shows a tendency towards overeating into the negative emotions, and it was detected that binge eating itself could also be related to emotional eating [13]. Externality means “external eating,” which is eating in response to food-induced stimuli although there is no real internal state of hunger or satiety. Individuals may react to being overweight by intentionally restricting food intake irrespective of whether they are emotional or external eaters. Eating less than desired is the very nature of restrained eating behavior [14]. Turkish version of the DEBQ was assessed in three subscales similarly. The first ten questions were restrictive eating subscale. 11^th–23^th questions were emotional eating subscale, and 24^th–33^th questions were external eating subscale. The factorial validity and the reliability of the Turkish version of the DEBQ indicated the presence of three factors (emotionality, externality and restraint) with loadings similar to those of the original scale [14, 15].

Fagerstrom Test for Nicotine Dependence (FTND): Fagerstrom Test for Nicotine Dependence (FTND) is used for the evaluation of nicotine dependence level. Reliability in the Turkish version and factor analysis was done in 2004 by Uysal et al. [16]. Nicotine dependence was classified as mild (0–3 points), medium (4–7 points), and heavy (8–10 points) dependence groups.

Ethical Approval and Consent to Participate

The voluntary patients were informed about the questionary. The survey included a patient consent form on its first page. The Taksim Training and Research Hospital Clinical Research Ethics Committee reviewed and approved this study on date 13/06/2018 (Approval no: 68).

Statistical Analysis

Data were presented as mean±SD or n (%). P-values determined for normally distributed parameters by paired samples t-test, student t-test, one-way ANOVA test and for non- normally distributed parameters by Mann-Whitney U test, Wilcoxon sign test, Kruskal Wallis test. Correlation analyses were used to investigate [1] weight gain and the change of initial-final DEBQ subscales, [2] initial BMI and initial DEBQ subscales and [3] final BMI and final DEBQ subscales. As a result of the power analysis before, of 97 successful patients on treatment, were planned to collect. Statistical analysis was completed using IBM SPSS Statistics 22 (SPSS IBM, Turkey) programs.

RESULTS

One hundred three patients (M age=38.3 years SD=9.28) observed for smoking cessation treatment were enrolled in this study. The majority of them was male (58.3%). The mean weight increased by 4.74±2.63 kg at three months of smoking cessation. The average first DEBQ-Restrained eating, DEBQ-Emotional eating and DEBQ-External eating scores were 23.54±7.6, 22.07±9.57, 29.06±6.96, respectively. 40.8% were in heavy, 53.4% were in moderate nicotine dependence level (NDL) group. The average smoking consumption was 23.0±13.24 packet/years. The demographic data and smoking characteristics are shown in Table 1.

TABLE 1.

Baseline characteristics (n=103)

Personal characteristics	Range	n (%)	Mean±SD
Gender
Female	43 (41.7)
Male	60 (58.3)
Age (years)	22–64		38.3±9.28
Height (cm)	150–187		168.62±9.46
Weight (kg)
First	45–107		74.5±13.7
Last	50–113		79±13.76
Weight change
BMI (kg/m2)	0–14		4.74±2.63
First	17.3–38.3		26.11±4.2
Last	19.1–41.1		27.72±4.2
Cigarettes per day	5–80		26.07±11.11
Cigarettes packet/year	2–50		23.02±13.24
Duration of smoking (years)	2–50		21.3±10
Smoking initiation age	10–36		17±4.39
FTND score
Nicotine dependence level
Mild		6 (5.8)
Moderate		55 (53.4)
High		42 (40.8)
Therapy type
Varenicline		87 (84.5)
Nicotine replacement
therapy		16 (15.5)
DEBQ- Restrained eating
First score	10–43		23.54±7.6
Last score	10–47		26.72±8.34
DEBQ- Emotional eating
First score	13–58		22.07±9.57
Last score	13–58		25.11±11.14
DEBQ- External eating
First score	10–44		26.69±6.15
Last score	16–47		29.06±6.96

SD: Standard deviation; BMI: Body mass index; FTND: Fagerstrom Test for Nicotine Dependence; DEBQ; Dutch eating behavior questionnaire.

When we compared the data before and after smoking cessation, this study has detected that BMI (p<0.001), weight (kg) (p<0.001), restrictive eating behavior score (p<0.001), emotional eating behavior score (p=0.001) and external eating behavior score (p=0.001) changed significantly after quitting smoke (analyzed by Wilcoxon signed ranks test). Weight gain and daily cigarette consumption (per day) were correlated positively (r=0.297 p=0.002). There was no association between the amount of weight (kg) and lifetime cigarette (packet/years) consumption (r:-0.015 p=0.88). No difference was detected between gender and weight gain. There was a positive correlation between Fagerstrom score and weight gain (r=0.335; p=0.001).

Post cessation weight change was significant between NDL groups (p=0.01). The increase of final weight in high addiction compared to the first weight was found to be statistically significantly higher than those with low and moderate addiction levels (p=0.02; p=0.01). Fagerstrom nicotine dependence is low, moderate and high in those; an increase in the last weight values compared to the initial weight values is statistically significant (p=0.002, p<0.001, p<0.001 respectively). The assessment data on eating behavior scales and weight gain in nicotine addiction are shown in Table 2.

TABLE 2.

Assessment of eating behavior and weight gain according to the nicotine dependence level

Variables	FTND -Nicotine Dependence level			p
	Mild Mean±SD (Median)	Moderate Mean±SD (Median)	Heavy Mean±SD (Median)
DEBQ-Restrained eating
First score	23.67±4.76	25.15±7.32	21.43±7.9	1a0.06
Last score	29.33±4.76	26.96±8.45	26.02±8.63	1a0.63
First-Last change p-value2a	0.04*	0.09	<0.001
DEBQ-Emotional eating
First score	22.67±10.01 (21)	23.56±10.99 (19)	20.02±7.02 (17)	1b0.52
Last score	23.67±10.31 (21)	25.87±11.87 (22)	24.31±10.41 (21)	1b0.85
First-Last change p-value2b	0.69	0.03	0.007*
DEBQ-External eating
First score	29.67±4.59	26.64±6.6	26.33±5.71	1a0.46
Last score	31.67±4.18	28.36±6.18	29.6±8.13	1a0.44
First-Last change p-value2a	0.47	0.09	0.005*
Weight gain
First weight	74±14.46	74.07±14.42	75.12±12.92	1a0.93
Last weight	77.17±15.01	78.25±14.14	80.24±13.31	1a0.74
First-Last change	3.17±1.33 (3)	4.33±2.5 (4)	5.5±2.76 (5)	1b0.01*
Weight change p-value2a	0.002*	<0.001	<0.001

SD: Standard deviation; DEBQ; Dutch eating behavior questionnaire.

^1aOneway ANOVA test;

^1bKruskal Wallis test;

^2aPaired samples t-test;

^2bWilcoxon sign test;

^*p-value<0.05.

In this study, 18.4% of cases had a higher BMI than 30 kg/m² (obese). At the beginning of the study, obese smokers had a higher restrained eating score than non-obese smokers (restrained eating p=0.009, emotional eating p=0.57 and external eating p=0.90). At the end of this study, no difference in eating behavior subscales was defined between obese and non-obese smokers, but all scores had increased, and change in restrained eating score was lower (p=0.21) in obese smokers than non-obese smokers. When the groups were compared regarding mean weight gain, there was no difference (p=0.23) although the mean weight gain in non-obese smokers was higher than obese smokers (4.9±2.50 kg; 4.0±3.13 kg, respectively).

In participants, positive correlations were detected between the first restraint and emotionality scores (r=0.298; p=0.002), between the first emotionality and externality scores (r=0.227; p=0.02), and between the last emotionality and externality scores (r=0.471; p<0.001).

The treatment type was nicotine replacement and varenicline; increase in the last weight values compared to the first weight values was statistically significant (p<0.001, p<0.001, respectively), but no statistically significant difference was obtained between the types of treatment in terms. Evaluation of the effects of smoking cessation treatment type is shown in Table 3.

TABLE 3.

Evaluation of the effects of smoking cessation treatment type on weight gain

Weight	NRT Mean±SD	Pharmacotherapy (Varenicline) Mean±SD	p
First weight	69.75±15.07	75.37±13.34	1a0.13
Last weight	75.56±16.34	79.63±13.24	1a0.28
Weight change	5.81±3.67	4.54±2.37	1b0.26
First-Last p-value2a	<0.001*	<0.001*

NRT: Nicotine Replacement Therapy; SD: Standard deviation;

^1aStudent t-test;

^1bMann-Whitney U test;

^2aPaired samples t-test;

^*p<0.05.

The scores of the three subscales of the eating behavior questionnaire significantly increased in patients with high NDL (restrictive eating behavior p<0,001; emotional eating behavior p=0.007; external eating behavior p=0.005). In low and high NDL groups, increase in the last restrictive eating averages was statistically significant compared to the first restrictive eating averages (p=0.04, p<0.001, respectively). In moderate and high NDL groups, an increase in emotional eating scores was statistically significant (p=0.03, p=0.007, respectively). In those with high NDL, the increase in external eating averages was statistically significant (p=0.005).

The increase in the last emotional eating scores of women and men compared to the average of the first emotional eating scores was significant (p=0.005; p=0.04, respectively). Evaluation of the subscales by gender is shown in Table 4.

TABLE 4.

Evaluation of the eating behavior subscales by gender

Variables	Gender female Mean±SD	Gender male Mean±SD	p
DEBQ-restrained eating
First score	26.4±7.08	21.5±7.35	1a0.001*
Last score	28.58±7.69	25.38±8.58	1a0.054
First-Last change
p-value2a	0.059	0.000*
DEBQ-emotional eating
First score	24.26±11.86	20.5±7.22	1b0.283
Last score	28.51±13.38	22.67±8.52	1b0.047*
First-Last change
p-value2b	0.005*	0.040*
DEBQ-external eating
First score	25.3±5.51	27.68±6.42	1a0.052
Last score	29.28±7.26	28.9±6.8	1a0.787
First-Last change
p-value2a	0.000*	0.194

SD: Standard deviation;

^1aStudent t test;

^1bMann whitney U test;

^2aPaired samples obese;

^2bWilcoxon sign test;

^*p<0.05.

DISCUSSION

In this prospective study conducted at a teaching and research hospital, we demonstrated that mean weight has increased by 4.74±2.63 kg at three months of smoking cessation, especially change in high nicotine dependence group was higher than others. Weight gain was a negative result of quit smoking as may be expected with high scores of DEBQ. This is similar to the results seen in a meta-analysis that lends support to weight gain after abstinence and shows a considerable variation in weight change, with 13% of quitters gaining weight more than 10 kg [11]. Smoking cessation period is associated with a mean increase of 4–5 kg in body weight during the first 12 months of abstinence, with most weight gain emerged within three months [11]. In a Czech study, smokers gain a mean of 5 kg post one year of cessation [17]. In a japan study, the mean BMI significantly (p<0.001) increased from 23.5±3.6 kg/m² at the first visit to 23.9±3.8 kg/m² at three months following the first visit of cessation therapy [18]. Mean BMI of our study significantly (p<0.001) increased from 26.11±4.2 kg/m² to 27.72±4.2 kg/m², too.

The more cigarettes they smoke, the more they can gain weight after quitting. But how long time? Cigarettes’ daily consumption or cigarettes lifetime consumption?

In a previous study, the determinants of nicotine addicts who gained weight included volunteers smoking high numbers of cigarettes per day, African-American race, and young persons [4]. In this study, weight gain (kg) and daily cigarette consumption (cigarette/per day) were related positively, but there was no relationship between the amount of weight (kg) and the amount of lifetime cigarette consumption (packet/years).

Is there any difference in weight change according to gender? Being a male smoker or being a female smoker? May high nicotine dependence level a predictor for a woman’s or man’s cosmetic appearance after quit smoking? Maybe those who gain weight are always overweight?

Smokers with a higher nicotine dependence gain more weight [17]. In a sample of study conducted on United States (US) men, age-adjusted BMI was 25.3 in nonsmokers and 24.7, 24.7, and 26.2 in light (<20 cigarettes/d), moderate (20–40 cigarettes/d), and heavy (>40 cigarettes/d) smokers, respectively [19, 20]. In a study conducted in Germany, heavy smokers in the male gender were more prone to be obese than light smokers. Daily consumption of cigarettes (per day) was positively associated with being overweight and more so to obesity among former smoking men, but not for gender female [8, 20]. A study conducted in Japan screened out that smokers with a high FTND score are more likely to gain weight during cessation therapy. Thus, heavy nicotine addicts may require a preventive approach to weight gain in the clinic [18]. In our study, median weight change in the high NDL was 5 kg while it was 4 kg in moderate NDL and 3 kg in mild NDL.

A nicotine addict always has an excuse for smoking another cigarette with one more cup of coffee. Maybe, for this reason, smoking cessation strategies should aim to prevent excuses for smoking, but all treatments have been focus on blocking the reward system or nicotine replacement.

Also of interest in our study is the association between treatment types and weight gain; a few studies show a difference between pharmacotherapy and nicotine replacement therapy. Lower BMI was indirectly related to eating less when stressed in smokers and, higher BMI was associated with non-smokers through eating more when stressed [19]. Current smokers tend to have a lower BMI than nonsmokers because of both nicotine-induced increases in energy expenditure and decreases in appetite [20]. A higher weight gain was related to a lower BMI and an increase in appetite at three months of cessation, but taking nicotine replacement therapy was associated with less weight gain at a 1-year follow-up [10]. Especially nicotine gum seems to be effective in delaying weight gain as a nicotine replacement therapy. In a group of female nicotine addicts who failed on cessation therapy because of weight gain, a dietary prescription (intermittent very-low-calorie diet) plus nicotine gum showed to both increase the success rate of smoking cessation and prevent weight gain. Otherwise, final weight gain was lower in the patients receiving bupropion or bupropion plus nicotine patch, compared with placebo, significantly [21]. Suppression on weight-gain has been explained by nicotine effects as a decrease in appetite and an increase in basal metabolism [22]. Another study showed that there was no difference between the nicotine patch and varenicline therapy groups according to BMI change [18]. In our study, although no statistically significant difference was obtained between the types of treatments in terms, both varenicline and nicotine replacement therapies resulted in weight gain, especially the average weight gain in the NRT group was higher than the pharmacotherapy group. Varenicline use was 84.5%, and NRT use was 15.5% of the cases. Hence, this result could depend on the distribution of treatment type.

In the last two decades, the increase in the emotionality of eating has not been equaled with a similar high increase in the externality of eating behavior. We may look from an emotional perspective to the global obesity epidemic [23]. A study showed a positive relationship between externality and BMI and that it was gender-dependent [12]. In another study, both restraint and emotionality of eating behaviors moderated the evaluation between overconsumption and overweight. There was no positive or moderator effect on the externality of eating behavior. It was finalized that dietary restraint might prevent people who overeat from getting overweight. The final body weight may be determined more by people’s tendency through emotionality of eating than by people’s sensitivity to environmental food cues [23]. In our study, emotionality significantly changed in both groups, while changes were detected in female externality and male restraint.

At the beginning of this study, the emotionality score of the participants was positively associated with both externality and restraint. However, only the correlation between emotionality and externality of eating behavior increased while any other correlation was not obtained at the end.

The emotional eating behavior has a tendency towards overeating in response to negative emotions. It is prevalent in people who have obesity, women with eating disorders, and people who have a healthy weight but are on a diet [13]. In our study, no difference in the emotionality of eating behavior was obtained between obese and non-obese groups, but women had a more significant change in emotionality.

A study showed that higher body weight and size predicted higher restraint scores rather than the other way round during the 7-year follow-up [24]. Another study suggested that the abstaining smokers consumed more calories intake than smokers. Food intake was related to the urge to smoke, the urge to eat, and craving for a cigarette; and that eating could reduce the desire to smoke. These results were only apparent in female smokers. Additionally, restraint predicted increases in post-cessation food intake [25]. In a present study, there was no difference in weight change, the number of attempts to quit, and intentions to quit in six months between the restrained and unrestrained eaters. Endorsement for body weight control, the role of weight gain in experiences of smoking relapse, intentions to post-cessation weight loss, and intentions to quit in five years were significantly higher in restrained eaters more than unrestrained eaters [26].

In today’s society, advertising stands/promotions meet us anywhere at any time. There is no doubt about the impacts of the advertising sector in the field of food marketing and the effects on eating behavior. ‘’Would you like to buy a crema coffee and a donut gift for yourself?’’ or ‘’A burger house is open on the next street 7/24 hours. XXL potatoes and XXL drinks.’’ Advertisements stimulate our impulses.

External eating explains the relationship between motor impulsivity and food intake [27]. Brain imaging observations report that structures included in appetitive behaviors and reward, especially the amygdala, insula, striatum, and orbital frontal cortex, tend to be activated by both smoking cues and visual food [28]. In light of all pieces of information and increased final externality scores of our study, craving for a cigarette in heavy smokers may replace with a higher craving for food. Thus, it may end with post-cessation weight gain.

Cigarette as an old friend for a nicotine addict will not a new enemy even if it was a reason to gain weight. Thus, we do not need to find new weapons for cessation therapies. We need psychiatric support to ensure a continuous biopsychosocial approach. Maybe, we should give a specially prepared dietary list for smokers while giving cessation prescriptions.

Study Limitations

The observation was the only period of six months, and data were from smoking cessation treatment or questionnaire results, not planned to evaluate determinants of weight gain, such as daily physical activity or food calorie intake.