Quitting smoking may make you stronger, Israeli study says

Quitting smoking may make you stronger, Israeli study says. (TOI).

Quitting smoking generally leads to weight gain, but some of that extra weight is added muscle, a year-long Israeli study suggests. 

Of the average 5 kilograms that people gained after quitting smoking in the study, 26 percent came in the form of bigger muscles. On average, the quitters got about 20 percent stronger after they quit, and their bones got stronger too. The study is the first to show that quitting smoking boosts muscle strength.

Although there are significant health benefits to quitting smoking, concern about weight gain is a factor in deterring many people from kicking the habit. 

The small longitudinal study, published in the journal Addiction this month, should alleviate this concern somewhat. Plus, it suggests that by quitting, smokers could earn a buffer body.

“The main reason for smokers not trying to quit is the fear of gaining weight,” said Oren Rom, a registered dietician who led the study for his doctoral thesis in medical sciences at the Technion — Israel Institute of Technology.

“So if we can see that there are some beneficial effects from weight gain, like improved muscle function and strength and improved bone density and strength, maybe it will encourage people to quit.” Hmmm......'What doesn't kill you makes you stronger when quitting' In my case i can confirm the study is true. Read the full story here.