Former Smokers' Weight Gain: Less Than You Thought It Would Be

If concerns about adding unhealthy pounds have kept you from quitting smoking, your argument doesn’t carry much weight. Even if you gain a little, you’ll still improve your heart health overall when you put out your last butt, according to a new study from the National Institutes of Health.

Looking at information from more than 3,000 adults, researchers found that people without diabetes who quit smoking had about half the risk of cardiovascular problems as those who smoked. Recent quitters gained about six pounds over four years, but they maintained their lower risk of heart disease.