That's just not true, according to doctors at UT Southwestern Medical Center at Dallas. It's the habit of putting something in your mouth. When people stop smoking, they may still have the habit of needing to put something in their mouth, and they often turn to food to replace the cigarettes. The result is weight gain. You can hold off the weight gain when you quit smoking by finding better things to keep your mouth busy.
Exercise is another good substitute for eating.
Add some exercise to your daily routine to help relieve stress and to keep you too busy to think about smoking. Even if you do gain weight when you quit smoking, it's most likely to be a small amount, and you should be able to lose it once you get into the habit of being a non-smoker. UT Southwestern doctors say even that small weight gain is better for you than smoking. Other Topics Health Watch is intended to provide general information only and should not replace the advice of a medical professional. You should contact your physician if you have questions about any of these topics.