Many people worry that they will put on weight if they give up smoking. However, a new study has found that even if they do, the benefits of quitting far exceed any health-related risks associated with that weight gain.

US scientists focused specifically on heart health because no previous study has investigated whether weight gain related to quitting smoking increases the risk of heart disease.

They analysed data from a long-term study, which has been running since the 1970s. Participants undergo a comprehensive medical exam every four to six years.

Based on the information gathered at these exams, the participants were divided into four groups:
-Never smokers
-Current smokers
-Recent quitters
-Long-term quitters.

The scientists from Massachusetts General Hospital noted that most participants put on weight over time, with never smokers, current smokers and long-term quitters gaining an average of 1-2lbs between medical exams. Recent quitters gained an average of 5-10lbs since their last visit.

However even they experienced significant benefits to their heart health.

"Among people without diabetes, those who stopped smoking had a 50% reduction in the risk for heart attack, stroke or cardiovascular death, and accounting for any weight increase didn't change that risk reduction," the scientists explained.

In fact, among those without diabetes, the risk of heart problems fell in the six years after quitting smoking irrespective of how much weight they gained.

"In patients with diabetes - among whom weight gain is a particular concern - we saw the same pattern of a large risk reduction regardless of weight gained," the scientists said.

The study involved the analysis of over 11,000 medical exams.

"We now can say without question that stopping smoking has a very positive effect on cardiovascular risk for patients with and without diabetes, even if they experience the moderate weight gain seen in this study," the scientists added.

Details of these findings are published in the Journal of the American Medical Association.

For more information on heart health, see our Heart Disease Clinic here