Am. J. Respir. Crit. Care Med., Volume 157, Number 3, March 1998, 866-872

Effect of Weight Gain on Pulmonary Function after Smoking Cessation in the Lung Health Study

ROBERT A. WISE, PAUL L. ENRIGHT, JOHN E. CONNETT, NICHOLAS R. ANTHONISEN, RICHARD E. KANNER, PAULA LINDGREN, PEGGY O'HARA, GREGORY  R. OWENS, CYNTHIA S. RAND, and DONALD P. TASHKIN

Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland; University of Arizona Health Sciences University, Tucson, Arizona; University of Minnesota School of Public Health, Minneapolis, Minnesota; University of Manitoba School of Medicine, Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada; University of Utah School of Medicine, Salt Lake City, Utah; University of Miami School of Medicine, Miami, Florida; University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania; and University of California at Los Angeles School of Medicine, Los Angeles, California

The objective of this study was to determine if the weight gain that accompanies smoking cessation is independently associated with reductions in FEV₁ and FVC, using a multicenter randomized intervention trial of smoking cessation in 10 communities in the United States and Canada. Enrollees were currently smoking women and men 35 to 60 yr of age with mild-to-moderate airway obstruction. Participants were randomized to one of three study groups: an intensive smoking cessation program with an inhaled bronchodilator (or a placebo), and usual care. Changes in absolute and percent predicted FEV₁ and FVC between baseline and fifth annual follow-up visit were monitored in relation to changes in body weight during the interval. At the baseline examination, percent predicted FEV₁ was maximal at 90 to 100% ideal body weight (IBW) and was lower as body weight deviated from this range. The FVC decreased linearly when IBW exceeded 100%. Weight gain was greatest during the first 12 mo after smoking cessation. Weight gain was associated with lower fifth-year FEV₁ and FVC in all smoking categories: continuous smokers, intermittent smokers, and sustained quitters. The FVC was affected by weight gain more than was the FEV₁, and the FEV₁ was affected by smoking cessation more than FVC. Men showed more impairment of FVC with weight gain than did women, possibly because of differential patterns of fat deposition. In sustained quitters, after adjustment for baseline factors, the estimated reduction of FVC was 17.4 ml/kg weight gain for men and 10.6 ml/kg for women. The estimated loss of FEV₁ was 11.1 ml/kg weight gain for men and 5.6 ml/kg for women. Lung function after smoking cessation is significantly influenced by weight gain and affects men more than women. The deleterious effects of weight gain are small, however, in comparison with the beneficial effects of smoking cessation.

This article has been cited by other articles:

				G. S. Skloot, C. B. Schechter, R. Herbert, J. M. Moline, S. M. Levin, L. E. Crowley, B. J. Luft, I. G. Udasin, and P. L. Enright Longitudinal Assessment of Spirometry in the World Trade Center Medical Monitoring Program Chest, February 1, 2009; 135(2): 492 - 498. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				K M McClean, F Kee, I S Young, and J S Elborn Obesity and the lung: 1 {middle dot} Epidemiology Thorax, July 1, 2008; 63(7): 649 - 654. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				Y. Chen, D. Rennie, Y. F Cormier, and J. Dosman Waist circumference is associated with pulmonary function in normal-weight, overweight, and obese subjects Am. J. Clinical Nutrition, January 1, 2007; 85(1): 35 - 39. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				H. M. Ochs-Balcom, B. J.B. Grant, P. Muti, C. T. Sempos, J. L. Freudenheim, M. Trevisan, P. A. Cassano, L. Iacoviello, and H. J. Schunemann Pulmonary function and abdominal adiposity in the general population. Chest, April 1, 2006; 129(4): 853 - 862. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				N. R. Anthonisen, P. G. Lindgren, D. P. Tashkin, R. E. Kanner, P. D. Scanlon, J. E. Connett, and for the Lung Health Study Research Group Bronchodilator response in the lung health study over 11 yrs Eur. Respir. J., July 1, 2005; 26(1): 45 - 51. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				R. A. Watson and N. B. Pride Postural changes in lung volumes and respiratory resistance in subjects with obesity J Appl Physiol, February 1, 2005; 98(2): 512 - 517. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				R. I. Harik-Khan, D. C. Muller, and R. A. Wise Racial Difference in Lung Function in African-American and White Children: Effect of Anthropometric, Socioeconomic, Nutritional, and Environmental Factors Am. J. Epidemiol., November 1, 2004; 160(9): 893 - 900. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				R. Sinvhal, L. Tosiello, G. Cable, R. I. Harik-Khan, J. L. Fleg, and R. A. Wise Confounding Issues in COPD Risk Study? Chest, January 1, 2003; 123(1): 307 - 308. [Full Text] [PDF]

				M. Bottai, F. Pistelli, F. Di Pede, L. Carrozzi, S. Baldacci, G. Matteelli, A. Scognamiglio, and G. Viegi Longitudinal changes of body mass index, spirometry and diffusion in a general population Eur. Respir. J., September 1, 2002; 20(3): 665 - 673. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				R. I. HARIK-KHAN, J. L. FLEG, D. C. MULLER, and R. A. WISE The Effect of Anthropometric and Socioeconomic Factors on the Racial Difference in Lung Function Am. J. Respir. Crit. Care Med., November 1, 2001; 164(9): 1647 - 1654. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				C. J. Womack, D. L. Harris, L. I. Katzel, J. M. Hagberg, E. R. Bleecker, and A. P. Goldberg Weight Loss, Not Aerobic Exercise, Improves Pulmonary Function in Older Obese Men J. Gerontol. A Biol. Sci. Med. Sci., August 1, 2000; 55(8): 453M - 457. [Abstract] [Full Text]

				G. T. Ferguson, P. L. Enright, A. S. Buist, and M. W. Higgins Office Spirometry for Lung Health Assessment in Adults: A Consensus Statement From the National Lung Health Education Program Chest, April 1, 2000; 117(4): 1146 - 1161. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]