To the Editor:—
Further to Dr. Glauser's report of weight gain after cessation of smoking (209:1621, 1969), we have accumulated data indicating that male cigarette smokers consume about 350 calories a day more than nonsmokers. For heavy smokers, the excess daily calorie consumption appears to be about 575 calories. Notwithstanding their calorie consumption, adult smokers weigh about 2.9 kg (6.5 lb) less than the nonsmokers (age, height, and income being matched), and with no material differences in physical energy expenditure.Among former cigarette smokers, the percentage of those who are "making an effort to keep their weight down" is 53%, compared with 32% for current cigarette smokers, and 27% for current heavy cigarette smokers. With regard to daily calorie intake and weight, former smokers, in the aggregate, are quite similar to those who have never smoked. Data for the behavior of recent abstainers are based on rather small numbers,