Fig. 1.

Weight and cardiometabolic risk changes in relation to the smoking severity and status. Figure demonstrating weight changes as a function of smoking intensity and status. An obese smoker weighs less with heavy cigarette smoking, and the leaner smoking state is associated with higher CVD morbidity and mortality than the obese state (lean paradox = the lean habitus does not appear to offer protection from CVD otherwise found with lower BMI). There is a natural weight gain with ageing which should be taken into account when referring to quitting induced weight gain. The weight differences with smoking cessation are notified by: A which refers to the weight gain with smoking cessation which is not taking account the weight difference from the pre-smoking weight shown with B. C takes account for the age-related weight gain. *Energy balance equation adjusted to smoking in which R is the rate of kcal/d that is stored or lost (and thus defines weight change), I is the intake of kcal/d, E is the rate of kcal/d expended and N is the nicotine dose (which does not reach 0 as nicotine is a natural ingredient of vegetables)