In a review published in the journal Nicotine & Tobacco Research, scientists underscored that nicotine makes smokers less likely to overeat, and suggested e-cigarettes with nicotine and no tobacco can help in preventing them from eating too much during the quitting process.
Researchers from Britain and New Zealand have suggested this new potential use of e-cigarettes in adults, who strive to give up the habit of smoking.
Tobacco can lead to fatal illnesses, according to all scientific studies; it is also known as a means to suppress appetite, which is why it is associated with keeping yourself in shape; consequently, people who try quitting very often quit this idea because of weight gain.
"Weight gain prevents some smokers from quitting, so we need to explore alternative ways of helping these (people) control their weight while removing the risks of tobacco," noted Linda Bauld, a Stirling University health policy professor and deputy director of the UK Centre for Tobacco and Alcohol Studies.
Additionally, some public health specialists believe that vaping poses a smaller risk than smoking, although long-term consumption can cause similar health issues. The vaping industry was estimated to $7 billion in 2015.
Obesity is a national issue in the U.S., affecting more people by the year. Due to the cigarettes' effect on metabolism, tobacco mitigates weight gain, according to the study. At the same time, one of the paper's premises is that smoking is, indeed, associated with premature death, and electronic cigarettes could suppress appetite delivering the same results in people who wish to quit smoking and experience weight gain issues.
What the study brings on the table is an analysis of the influence of nicotine on the body, along with the results of interaction between aroma, taste and flavor and the sensation of fullness.
Paul Aveyard, professor of behavioral medicine at the University of Oxford, also concluded that it is scientifically plausible that e-cigarettes would have a positive weight effect on people who are trying to quit smoking, but that there is no such known effect associated with non-smokers who are in the process of losing weight.
Electronic cigarettes usually contain propylene glycol and flavoring agents, and nicotine can be added to the mix or not, depending on the case. However, the opinions around the healthiness of vaping are divided among health experts.
"We must make sure that e-cigarettes don't become a kind of snake oil, distracting ex-smokers from other established and effective weight loss interventions," warned Theresa Marteau, a Cambridge University professor.
