Quotes of the Day

Although folks who quit smoking often add a couple of pounds of flab in the process, their lungs would be happier if they could keep the weight gain to a minimum, according to a study in the Lancet. Why? Because the extra girth crowds in on the lungs, making it harder for them to expand. This becomes a bigger problem as the years go by since the lungs naturally stiffen up with age.

But anyone who's still puffing on a pack of Marlboros can forget about using the latest results as an excuse to put off quitting. Other studies have shown that just two years after quitting, ex-smokers, including the ones who've added a few pounds, are 17% less likely to die than their smoking counterparts who continue to smoke.

• Christine Gorman
• A study says the extra pounds packed on after you stop smoking can stress the lungs