Smoking and Weight Loss

How many times have you heard an ex smoker claim that after quitting, they gained weight? Or how about the people that tell you that they smoke to keep thin? Is this a Myth or a fact?

Cigarettes and Tobacco contain an addictive substance called Nicotine. This is a stimulant and does actually slightly reduce appetite and raise the metabolism. Studies have been conducted which show that on average, smokers weigh marginally less than non smokers.

However, it should be stressed that both the suppression of the appetite and the reduction in metabolism are extremely small. Some people do indeed gain weight after quitting smoking but this is more likely to be due binging on food as a substitute for smoking. Having stopped smoking, it is more likely that you will feel better about exercise and as a result be able to lose weight and diet more effectively.

Weight loss or gain is a result of the amount and quality of foods you ingest, the major factor being consumption of calories. Whether or not you gain weight after quitting smoking depends on if you start eating more! Some people do start to eat more when quitting smoking, thus causing a weight gain, but this is certainly not the result in the majority of cases. Don’t listen to the people who say “I carry on smoking to keep me thin”- this is an excuse to carry on smoking! Also, you will find that people will tell you that they gained weight after quitting, and continue to tell you that they only ate the same. This is perhaps selective memory in action.

Remember too that if you eat the right foods, your appetite will be satisfied, and that you can speed up your metabolism by eating small meals regularly, and by adding lean muscle tissue to your body. Smoking as a tool to maintain your weight is not a valid reason to harm your health. Whilst it is true that there is a slight effect on appetite and metabolism, the other factors, such a being able to exercise more vigorously far outweigh the effects of Nicotine on the metabolism.

Quitting smoking is one of the best things you can ever do!