'Weight gain needn't be an unwanted side effect of stopping smoking'

WEIGHT loss expert Elspeth Turner-Warke who runs two Slimming World groups in Monkstown has said that smoking acts as an appetite suppressant, with many smokers who try to quit finding that they turn to food for comfort instead.
By The Newsroom
Published 8th Mar 2010, 17:27 BST
Updated 8th Mar 2010, 20:09 BST

“Weight gain needn’t be an unwanted side effect of stopping smoking. Anyone can be successful at both giving up smoking and maintaining a healthy weight if they get great support combined with regular activity and a diet rich in fruit and vegetables and low in sugar, salt and fat,” said the local Slimming World consultant.

“For anyone concerned about weight gain, a good place to start is joining a warm and supportive slimming group like Slimming World, where smokers can get help to start new healthy eating and lifestyle habits at the same time as quitting.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

“The motivational techniques that Slimming World members gain through shared experience to help them lose weight successfully can be just as effective if applied to smoking. Strategies like setting a target, deciding when you’re going to stop, writing a ‘for and against’ list or keeping a diary are extremely powerful when used in combination with a support group to help with behaviour change,” she said.

For more information about Elspeth’s Slimming World groups in Monkstown call 07810003440 or visit www.slimmingworld.com