EFFECTS OF TOBACCO ABSTINENCE ON FOOD-INTAKE AMONG CIGARETTE SMOKERS

The total caloric and specific nutrient intakes of smokers who became abstinent were compared with those of a control group. Both groups wer e composed of volunteer inpatients housed in a research ward for 7 day s. After smoking ad libitum for 3 days, the experimental group was req uired to abstain from tobacco for the next 4 days while the control gr oup continued to smoke. Significant increases in total caloric intake and in grams of carbohydrates, protein, fat, and sucrose were observed in the experimental relative to the control group, whereas no signifi cant differences were found in fructose intake. The increase in calori c intake was not specific to increases in snacking. Preliminary analys es showed gender differences in food intake as a result of tobacco abs tinence.