Want to quit smoking? Your chances may be better if you don't switch to a "light," "ultra-light," or "low-tar" cigarette before you try. Smokers who switch to a low-tar, light or mild brand of cigarette will not find it easier to quit and in fact may find it harder, researchers reported on Tuesday.

“Those who switched brands were 58 percent more likely to have tried to quit smoking than those who stuck with their brand but they were 60 percent less likely to actually succeed in quitting”, Dr. Hilary Tindle of the University Of Pittsburgh School Of Medicine, who led the study, said in a statement. Her study of 31,000 smokers found that 12,000, or 38 percent, had switched to a lighter brand.

"Forty-three percent of smokers reported a desire to quit smoking as a reason for switching to lighter cigarettes. While these individuals were the most likely to make an attempt, ironically, they were the least likely to quit smoking", Tindle said.

While much of the public may still believe the "lighter" claims, federal officials no longer do. Last April, Congress passed a reform legislation giving the FDA the authority to regulate tobacco products. As a result, words such as light, ultra-light, mild, and low-tar will no longer be permitted on cigarette packaging starting next June.