Smoking reduction/cessation and psychiatric patients: What about weight control?

Abstract

Introduction

Smoking cessation has long been associated with weight gain and is one of the many reasons that smokers invoke for not giving up smoking. Many psychiatric medications are also associated with increased weight gain and metabolic syndrome. Unhealthy lifestyles reflect symptoms of illness with poor coping strategies and financial and social difficulties.

There are many reasons why smoking cessation may be viewed as much more difficult for psychiatric patients and weight gain is one of them.

Objective

To study how patients’ weight evolves during smoking reduction and cessation in a smoking reduction/cessation program in a psychiatric hospital.

Aims

To demystify weight gain as a significant problem in smoking reduction and cessation in this patient population.

Methods

Every patient entering the smoking reduction/cessation program is evaluated initially with regard to weight and BMI.

Patients’ weights are evaluated during the duration of the program for each patient as is smoking status.

Results

We are still collecting data at this time.

Conclusions

There are three groups of patient according to weight changes during the program: those who gain weight, those who maintain the same weight (± 1 kg) and those who lose weight.

Most patients who gain weight end up recuperating their initial weight or are able to lose weight later.

Some patients had weight control issues and their fear of gaining weight led them to overcompensate leading to weight loss.

We have included interventions on healthy lifestyles that have aided patients in controlling their weight.

Disclosure of interest

The authors have not supplied their declaration of competing interest.