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How Smoking Factors in Weight Problems

Smoking contributes to numerous conditions within the body as it is bombarded with free radicals that destroy cells at an increased rate. Stress, liver damage and poor diet also contribute to weight gain and free radical production, so the factors involving weight gain are clearly varied. According to Kim J. Evans, author of "Cleaning Up: The Ultimate Body Cleanse," weight gain is a symptom of an unhealthy liver. Also, smokers store more visceral fat than nonsmokers.

  1. Smoke Damage Factor

    • The more cigarettes you smoke, the more damage your body incurs.

      A smoker's body has reduced blood oxygenation, increased carbon monoxide levels, depressed immunity and liver damage. Over time, these can all contribute to weight gain, or for some, weight loss. Numerous chemicals increase toxicity levels in the body through free radical action, causing rapid aging of the cells. For smokers this rate is 20 times more than the average person's free radical exposure.

    The Stress Factor

    • Stress triggers cortisol production -- leading to abdominal fat.

      Smoking is a stress to the body, and perhaps stress is why you smoke. As an added factor, cortisol is a hormone produced from stress that causes fatty acids to be released into the blood stream from the central fat cells. This puts great stress on the liver, the body's primary detoxing agent. According to Ann Louise Gittleman, author of "The Fat Flush Plan," if you have a roll of fat around your waistline, you may have a fatty liver. It has stopped processing fat and begun storing it. About 30 minutes after a smoker puts out a cigarette, cortisol levels shoot up and remain high for at least 30 minutes more.

    The Metabolism Factor

    • Multiple factors can be involved in weight gain.

      The liver, which helps the body with metabolism -- the uptake, processing and elimination of food -- is designed to get rid of toxins, metabolize proteins and carbohydrates, control hormones, help boost immunity and burn fat. When the liver is damaged it cannot function properly and can cause numerous health conditions. If part of your smoking habit is to skip meals and then reach for the wrong foods when you're hungry, regularly adding an antioxidant-rich snack with healthful fats, proteins and fiber can increase your metabolism and nourish your liver.

    The Quitting Factor

    • Fresh fruits, vegetables and a high-fiber diet can help detoxify your body.

      Quitting smoking is not the actual cause of weight gain; dietary changes are. All of the sudden, you may find yourself focusing on food, craving and eating whatever foods will fill the void. This dilemma of quitting is to get rid of one bad habit only to take on another. Many detox programs help solve this problem. According to Kim Evans, author of "Cleaning Up: The Ultimate Body Cleanse," the chemicals left over from cigarettes cause the cravings. By removing the chemicals from your body, you remove the cravings.

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