THE WORLD OBSERVER: The weight gain that often follows giving up smoking can deter some people from quitting. Now scientists have discovered exactly how nicotine causes weight loss.
The research, led by Professor Marina Picciotto of Yale University in the USA, may eventually lead to drugs that help smokers to give up without putting on weight and could help combat obesity in non-smokers too.
The study is reported in this week's edition of Science.
"On average smokers are 2.5 kilograms lighter than non-smokers," says Professor Picciotto.
She says nicotine seems to lower their 'set weight', and once they give up the weight returns to normal. » | Undated
