From the Guidelines
Vaping is not a recommended strategy for weight loss due to its potential health risks and lack of significant or sustainable weight loss benefits. The provided evidence does not directly address the relationship between vaping and weight loss, but it highlights the importance of smoking cessation and the various resources available for quitting tobacco and vaping products 1. While nicotine in vaping products may temporarily suppress appetite and slightly increase metabolism, these effects are minimal and do not lead to significant or sustainable weight loss.
Health Risks of Vaping
The health risks of vaping, including lung damage, cardiovascular issues, and nicotine addiction, far outweigh any potential minor weight loss benefits 1. Additionally, when people quit vaping, they often experience increased appetite and potential weight gain as withdrawal symptoms.
Effective Weight Loss Strategies
For those seeking weight management, healthier and more effective approaches include:
- Balanced nutrition
- Regular physical activity
- Adequate sleep
- Stress management
- Medically supervised weight loss programs, if needed These methods address the root causes of weight management issues rather than providing a short-term, potentially harmful solution like vaping. The most recent and highest quality study on smoking cessation, which can be applied to vaping cessation as well, recommends a combination of behavioral therapy and pharmacotherapy for the best outcomes 1.
From the Research
Vaping and Weight Loss
- There is evidence to suggest that some individuals use vaping as a method for weight loss or control 2, 3.
- A systematic review found that high rates of e-cigarette usage correlated with increased weight concerns, particularly among females, and that regular e-cigarette users who reported being overweight were more likely to view vaping as a weight loss or control strategy 2.
- A study of adult e-cigarette users found that 13.5% reported vaping for weight loss or control, and that these individuals were more likely to vape frequently, be overweight, restrict calories, and have poor impulse control 3.
- The use of vaping for weight loss or control is a concern, as it is not a scientifically substantiated use of e-cigarettes and may promote e-cigarette initiation among individuals who are trying to lose weight 3.
Health Risks of Vaping
- Vaping has been linked to various health risks, including cardiopulmonary disease, lung cancer, and respiratory problems 4, 5, 6.
- The outbreak of e-cigarette or vaping product use-associated lung injury in 2019 highlighted the potential harms of vaping 4, 6.
- Further research is needed to establish clear public policy guidance and regulation of e-cigarettes and vaping products 4, 6.
Vaping Patterns and Weight Management
- Vaping patterns and weight management-related concerns among adolescents and young adults are not well understood 2.
- A systematic review found that young adults may consume more flavored e-cigarettes than older users, and that females facing body image pressures may use vaping as a weight control method 2.
- Further research is needed to inform public health strategies and to assess cardiovascular risks associated with vaping for weight loss or control 2.