Researchers Figure Out Why Smokers Gain Weight When They Quit

A team of Yale researchers say they now know why smokers tend to gain weight when they kick the habit. It has to do with nicotine, but the reason might surprise you.

Obviously, nicotine is highly addictive and has known effects on the central nervous system and brain. It's a stimulant, and tends to even calm nerves in those who have the habit.

But this current research says that nicotine revs up the part of your brain that tells you when your stomach is full. So when you quit smoking, it's easier to overeat before your brain gets the message.

It makes sense then that smokers who quit tend to gain an average of around 10 pounds. The only fix, according to the research, is to use nicotine gum or a nicotine patch to wean down slowly. Most smokers attempting to quit probably do this anyway. And it's still well worthwhile to stop smoking if you can. The weight gain pales in comparison to the risks associated with cigarettes. (via news.yahoo.com)