Cognitive-behavioral therapy to reduce weight concerns improves smoking cessation outcome in weight-concerned women

Women smokers concerned about weight gain (N = 219) were randomly assigned to I of 3 adjunct treatments accompanying group smoking cessation counselin g: (a) behavioral weight control to prevent weight gain (weight control); ( b) cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) to directly reduce weight concern, in which dieting was discouraged; and (c) standard counseling alone (standard ), in which weight gain was not explicitly addressed. Ten sessions were con ducted over 7 weeks, and no medication was provided, Continuous abstinence was significantly higher at posttreatment and at 6 and 12 months of follow- up for CBT (56%, 28%, and 21%, respectively), but not for weight control (4 4%, 18%, and 13%, respectively), relative to standard (31%, 12%, and 9%, re spectively). However, weight control, and to a lesser extent CBT, was assoc iated with attenuation of negative mood after quitting. Prequit body mass i ndex, but not change in weight or in weight concerns postquit, predicted ce ssation outcome at 1 year. In sum, CBT to reduce weight concerns, but not b ehavioral weight control counseling to prevent weight gain, improves smokin g cessation outcome in weight-concerned women.