Jump to full article: NewsOK, 2009-09-11
Author: MICHAEL MCNUTT
Intro: Oklahomans are willing to tackle giving up smoking and losing weight at the same time, according to preliminary results of a survey of smokers using the state's tobacco help line.
"People have weight concerns related to quitting smoking, but they're still willing to call and get help," said Laura Beebe, director of the Oklahoma Tobacco Research Center, which conducted the study. "People do want to address both of those concerns at the same time."
Beebe gave results Thursday to the Oklahoma Tobacco Settlement Endowment Trust Fund's board of directors, which helped fund the study.
"In the past there's been some mixed literature that had said, 'No, if you're going to treat people for tobacco addiction don't address weight control,'" Beebe said.
The average weight gain after a person quits smoking is five to 10 pounds, Beebe said.
"We find now obesity is more of a problem in the general population and weight gain after smoking is also inching up there," Beebe said.
Results are still being developed from the 18-month study, Beebe said. Follow-up work was completed in June.
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