For the Patient Who Has Recently Quit (Continued)
Addressing problems encountered by former smokers (Continued)
| Weight gain |
- Recommend starting or increasing physical activity.
- Reassure the patient that some weight gain after quitting is common and is usually self-limiting.
- Emphasize the health benefits of quitting relative to the health risks of modest weight gain.
- Emphasize the importance of a healthy diet and active lifestyle.
- Suggest low-calorie substitutes such as sugarless chewing gum, vegetables, or mints.
- Maintain the patient on medication known to delay weight gain (e.g., bupropion SR, NRTs, particularly 4 mg nicotine gum, and lozenge).
- Refer the patient to a nutritional counselor or program.
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| Smoking lapses |
- Suggest continued use of tobacco use medications, which can reduce the likelihood that a lapse will lead to a full relapse.
- Encourage another quit attempt or a recommitment to total abstinence.
- Reassure that quitting may take multiple attempts and use the lapse as a learning experience.
- Provide or refer for intensive counseling.
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