Smoking & Weight

Scientists think that they may have unlocked the secret behind why cigarettes can have a suppressant component.

According to Yale scientists there may be a way for smokers to kick the habit of smoking, but not having to worry so much about gaining any weight. Some smokers say one of the reasons that they don't quit is because they worry about gaining weight.

The new study published in the journal "Science" has figured out exactly how the nicotine in cigarettes acts as an appetite suppressant. A team led by Yale University scientists found nicotine triggers certain neurons in the brain responsible for telling a person when he or she is full.

Researchers found an experimental anti-depressant could turn on the nicotine receptor that controls appetite without triggering the one linked to nicotine cravings. The team says the discovery could lead to new weight-control treatments for smokers and non-smokers alike.