Can smoking help you lose weight?

Question

I have a friend who reckons that starting smoking helped him to lose weight. Specifically, he states that his taste buds are less sensitive thus removing his pleasure from sweet foods. Obesity is clearly a huge health risk but by starting smoking is he adding to his problems or is there some truth in this?

Answer 1

It doesn't necessarily help you lose weight, but it does reduce your appetite by making your taste buds less sensitive. But smoking can lead to a number of other diseases, especially if you are an inactive smoker doing no exercise, you have a really high risk of many diseases.
Obesity is a huge problem but even little things can help in daily routines, like taking the stairs or walking up the elevator instead of taking the lift all the time, or running up stairs at home rather than walking, or walking instead of taking the bus for two stops!

So smoking just adds to your problems and avoiding the obesity issue instead of doing some regular exercise and cutting down fatty and sugary foods from your diet.

Answer 2

No... Smoking will not make you lose wieght and does NOT act as an appetite suppressant. This is a myth that has sprung from the fact that people did smoke who give up smoking are in danger of putting on weight but this is due to the ex smoker replacing his old crutch with food, they tend to eat more at meals where before they might have stopped and have a cigarette and use food as a repalcement comfort. Smoking does not affect your metabolism. A hefty coke habit should shift those pounds though.

To the guy above me, I promise you your eating habits did change you just didn't realise it, that extar fat did not come out of thin air, it came from extra food!!!

Answer 3

I recently stopped smoking and put on half a stone, which I have now lost, and my taste buds did come alive again. I think that if you substitute a smoke for a meal or snack then yes he will lose weight, however, he may start to have other health problems and some doctors refuse treatment unless you show that you are trying to stop smoking[if the problem is related to smoking], He is taking a drug that is very hard to get off[trust me I know] If he has a weight problem exercise and moderation is the best policy.

Answer 4

I'm going to sound stupid saying this and I don't want any hate. I have recently started smoking and I am quite a fit and healthy person. I haven't lost weight for about a few months but since I had started to smoke I have lost quite a bit of weight. I was 7stone3pounds now I am 6stone6pounds, In just a few months. I'm not saying hat you should go and smoke because it reduces weight it's just you don't have to smoke but it's your choice. I don't think I works for everybody I think its just because I'm healthy and eat the right stuff... I honestly have no idea if its smoking so no hate please

Answer 5

I found the book to be very informative and easy to read.

I've lost 17 pounds in 12 days, I'm just concerned that I'm losing too much weight, too quickly. I will admit I haven't followed the guide exactly. I'm not sticking perfectly to the listed foods and meal plans (but mostly) and doing very little exercise, but the weight keeps flying off.

It clearly works and if I'd followed it exactly I think it would scare the living daylights out of me because of the amount that I'd lose. So thanks again for the information. I've never purchased anything like this before because they are usually full of trash, but 3WD has been a pleasant surprise.

Get started today!

Answer 6

Okay, technically your friend is right. Smoking destroys your taste buds, sense of smell, and it boosts your metabolism. So, TECHNICALLY it could help you loose weight and many many people refuse to quit for fear of gaining weight. But you know what, Bulimia will help you loose weight too. There are millions of healthy ways to loose weight that don't involve inhaling 101 carcinogens every single day. Trust me, I smoke, it's hard to quit. My clothes, hair, car, and skin all smell like smoke. My teeth aren't as white as they used to be, and when I am in a situation where I can't get a cigarette, I am evil because of the cravings! Don't smoke to loose weight, Don't smoke at all.

Answer 7

Dont know as I have never smoked, but I have a lot of family members that do/did.. who were always a 'healthy' weight certainly not thin..

I said do and did because my dad passed away 2 years after a huge stroke aged 59, his brother a heart attack age 47, my mum has COPD and has oxygen 15 hours a day or she will die (age 59), her sister died of same illness a year ago aged 43 as did her husband the year before aged 45....

they were not thin, they were not fat, but they were all smokers of 20 a day and now they are all dead.

Get him to go to weight watchers if he is serious about losing weight, smoking is not the way to go.

Answer 8

my dad smoke for 5 year he lost about 75 pound it will make you lose weight for sure but will also damage your lung really back after a while so you can just go on a regular diet by not eating so much at one time and just eat little by little though out the day this will give your stomach enough time to digest the food i went to a dieet like that and i lose about 50 pound in a month!!

Answer 9

nope. no truth whatsoever. When you QUIT smoking you gain weight, but only because you are replacing an addiction with food. It just simply doesnt work the other way. Please don't do it. You friend is just adding seriously to his health problems by taking up such a dangerous habit. And this is comming from a person who smokes.

Answer 10

Weight same since 13 smoked since 11 now 70 ,12 stone man
fit as a lop babes,SMOKE if you want to,
. UK