Older, medically ill smokers are concerned about weight gain after quitting smoking

Abstract

Concern about postcessation weight gain has been shown to be a barrier to quitting for healthy smokers, but no study has examined these concerns among medically ill smokers. We examined whether medically ill smokers (N=271; 54% female, mean age=57 years) receiving nurse-delivered home health care report postcessation weight concern as a barrier to quitting smoking. Higher levels of weight concern were associated with younger age, longer duration of home care service, greater motivation to quit smoking, lower self-efficacy to quit smoking, more favorable views of smoking, and lower levels of social support; collectively accounting for over 20% of the variance. Increased illness severity was also associated with higher postcessation weight concern. Heavier smokers had higher levels of weight concerns at all follow-ups. Weight concerns did not prospectively predict smoking status, but quitters had higher subsequent levels of weight concerns than continued smokers. These results suggest that, even in the context of poor health and limited physical functioning, smokers are concerned about weight gain after quitting.