Predictors of marked weight gain in a population of health care and industrial workers following smoking cessation.

Background: Concerns about postcessational weight gain might hamper rather than encourage smokers to quit smoking.

Methods: We conducted a comprehensive multi-institutional smoking cessation program for health care and industrial workers (n = 654) employed at University Hospital Basel (Switzerland) and two local health industry companies (Novartis International AG, F. Hoffmann-La Roche AG).