(Newser)
–
Congrats on quitting smoking… but beware of cupcakes. A new study shows ex-smokers typically gain 9 to 11 pounds within 12 months of quitting, reports Medical News Today. That's higher than previous estimates, but the researchers also make it very clear: The big benefits of quitting cigarettes far outweigh any possible downsides from packing on some extra weight.
French and British scientists analyzed 62 studies on the correlation between smoking cessation and weight gain and found that the bulk of the weight, about 6 and a half pounds, is packed on in the first three cigarette-free months. By the end of the year, it's closer to 10 and a half. Still, "modest weight gain does not increase the risk of death," conclude the researchers. "Smoking does."
