A brisk walk or bike ride may be the key to curbing cigarette cravings, according to a new review of 59 randomized controlled trials involving over 9,000 adults. Researchers found that just one session of high-intensity, aerobic exercise can significantly reduce the immediate urge to smoke, with effects lasting up to 30 minutes post-exercise.
The review, published in the Journal of Sport and Health Science, also found that regular exercise training made people 15% to 21% more likely to abstain from smoking compared to those who didn't exercise. Smokers who exercised regularly cut back by an average of two cigarettes per day.
The authors note that exercise boosts feel-good hormones like dopamine and reduces the stress hormone cortisol, making smokers less inclined to rely on nicotine for brain reward. They recommend integrating exercise into smoking cessation programs to enhance quit success.
The study did not address vaping, and researchers called for future studies targeting electronic cigarettes.