The vaping industry is growing more than ever, with millions puffing on e-cigarettes in hopes of kicking the smoking habit. But could that little pen-shaped vape also be the secret to shedding a few pounds?
That’s the tempting question many are asking as they eye their vape and wonder if nicotine’s famous appetite-suppressing powers could translate into a slimmer waistline. The answer, as with most things is complicated.
As a former smoker turned heavy vaper myself (an occupational hazard when you review vape devices for a living), I’ve seen firsthand the complex connection between nicotine and hunger. Even as I’ve gradually cut back on the nicotine strength of my e-liquids over the years, I still find myself plagued by sudden hunger pangs whenever I’m separated from my trusty vape for too long – like on those long flights where it’s a very different cloud I’m allowed to chase.
It’s a familiar story for many in the vaping community – the promise of appetite suppression tangled up with the ever-present prospect of nicotine dependence. But what does the science actually say about this supposed weight loss wonder drug?
Does Vaping Help You Lose Weight?
There’s no denying the scientific link between nicotine and a faster metabolism. Study1L. E. Rupprecht et al., “Self-administered nicotine increases fat metabolism and suppresses weight gain in male rats,” Psychopharmacology, vol. 235, no. 4, pp. 1131–1140, Jan. 2018, doi: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00213-018-4830-y after study2K. A. Perkins, L. H. Epstein, R. L. Stiller, B. L. Marks, and R. G. Jacob, “Acute effects of nicotine on resting metabolic rate in cigarette smokers,” The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, vol. 50, no. 3, pp. 545–550, Sep. 1989, doi: https://doi.org/10.1093/ajcn/50.3.545has shown that the stimulant can crank your body’s fat-burning potential into overdrive. Vaping products loaded with nicotine should theoretically have the same effect.
But experts caution that relying on vaping alone for weight loss is about as advisable as a juice cleanse.
You might shed a few pounds in the short term, but maintaining a healthy weight requires a more holistic approach that prioritizes nutrition and exercise. It’s also crucial to remember that vaping comes with its own set of health risks, from lung inflammation to potentially harmful chemical exposures. Weight loss should never come at the cost of overall wellness.
Nicotine and Your Metabolism
Nicotine’s weight loss secret lies in its ability to boost metabolism3KA Perkins, LH Epstein, RL Stiller, JE Sexton, MH Fernstrom, RG Jacob, R Solberg, Metabolic effects of nicotine after consumption of a meal in smokers and nonsmokers, The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, Volume 52, Issue 2, 1990, Pages 228-233 https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0002916523168705. A faster metabolism means your body incinerates more calories, even when you’re just sitting around scrolling through TikTok.
This might seem like a dieter’s dream, but there’s a catch. Once you stop using nicotine, your metabolism drops back to its baseline, often leading to weight gain. Vaping can ease this transition4A. M. Ashour, “Use of Vaping as a Smoking Cessation Aid: A Review of Clinical Trials,” Journal of Multidisciplinary Healthcare, vol. 16, pp. 2137–2144, Jul. 2023, doi: https://doi.org/10.2147/JMDH.S419945 for those trying to ditch cigarettes, but it’s not a magic bullet.For those who haven’t smoked before, the allure of nicotine’s metabolic boost should be weighed against its highly addictive nature. Getting hooked on nicotine solely for weight loss is a dangerous game, one that can quickly spiral into a lifelong dependence with serious health consequences.
Does Vaping Suppress Your Appetite?
Despite nicotine’s reputation as an appetite killer, the science suggests vaping won’t actually make you less hungry.
While cigarette smokers often report decreased hunger, researchers believe this may be due to other compounds in tobacco smoke or behavioral factors related to the act of smoking itself. Vaping delivers nicotine without these extra elements.
Do Vape Carts Contain Calories?
In a cruel twist of irony, your vape cartridge might be adding to your daily calorie count. While the exact number varies based on the e-liquid’s ingredients, those sweet, fruity flavors beloved by many vapers get their taste from sugar-based additives.
Before you start obsessively reading e-juice labels, keep in mind we’re talking a pretty negligible amount here – nowhere near the caloric payload of your average snack binge. Still, it’s a good reminder that even seemingly innocent habits can have unexpected dietary impacts.
Does Vaping Make It Easier to Fast?
Intermittent fasting continues to be a hot trend in the wellness world. The idea is simple – limit your eating to certain time windows to give your body a “metabolic reboot.” But can vaping make those hungry hours between meals more bearable?
A recent study5E. L. Bloom, S. G. Farris, A. M. DiBello, and A. M. Abrantes, “Smoking-related weight and appetite concerns and use of electronic cigarettes among daily cigarette smokers,” Psychology, Health & Medicine, vol. 24, no. 2, pp. 221–228, Oct. 2018, doi: https://doi.org/10.1080/13548506.2018.1537495 suggests the answer is a resounding “meh.” Researchers found that while nicotine vaping reduced cigarette cravings during fasting periods, it had zero impact on overall hunger levels. Turns out there’s no cloudy shortcut to the age-old challenge of mind over matter.
Weight Gain After Quitting Smoking—Fact or Fiction?
It’s a dreaded side effect familiar to many former smokers – kicking the habit, only to watch the number on the scale start creeping up.
The phenomenon is real and well-documented6“Weight gain after quitting smoking: What to do: MedlinePlus Medical Encyclopedia,” medlineplus.gov. https://medlineplus.gov/ency/patientinstructions/000811.htm#:~:text=The%20nicotine%20in%20cigarettes%20speeds. Nicotine’s metabolic boost means your body burns through calories faster while you’re smoking. Take that away and your metabolism hits the brakes, leading to weight gain if you don’t adjust your lifestyle accordingly.
Vaping can soften this blow7M. Al-Hamdani and E. Manly, “Smoking cessation or initiation: The paradox of vaping,” Preventive Medicine Reports, vol. 22, no. 22, p. 101363, Jun. 2021, doi: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.pmedr.2021.101363 by easing the transition off nicotine. Ex-smokers who switch to vaping tend to put on fewer pounds than those going cold turkey. Over the long term though, a balanced diet and active lifestyle are still the keys to maintaining a healthy weight.
What About Cannabis or CBD Vapes?
The wellness world is buzzing with excitement about CBD, THC, and every other three-letter compound squeezed from the versatile hemp plant. Can vaping these cannabis derivatives help whittle your middle?
Let’s break it down.
CBD Vapes and Weight Loss
CBD, the non-intoxicating cannabis compound, has shown some promise as a weight loss aid.
Researchers believe it may help convert troublesome white fat into more easily burned brown fat8H. A. Parray and J. W. Yun, “Cannabidiol promotes browning in 3T3-L1 adipocytes,” Molecular and Cellular Biochemistry, vol. 416, no. 1–2, pp. 131–139, Apr. 2016, doi: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11010-016-2702-5, through a process delightfully termed “fat browning.”
CBD has also been touted as an appetite suppressant, though the jury is still out on its hunger-fighting powers. While it may help some people eat less, the effect is likely subtle and highly individual.
THC Vapes and Weight Loss
THC, the main psychoactive ingredient in cannabis, is a bit of a wild card when it comes to weight. On one hand, it’s notorious for triggering the munchies – that sudden, irresistible urge to raid the fridge after a few puffs.
But intriguingly, studies 9R. A. Sansone and L. A. Sansone, “Marijuana and Body Weight,” Innovations in Clinical Neuroscience, vol. 11, no. 7–8, pp. 50–54, 2014, Available: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4204468 have found that regular cannabis users tend to weigh less on average than non-users. Scientists speculate this could be due to THC’s modulatory effect on metabolism, or the fact that cannabis may make people more relaxed and active.
So while THC vaping probably won’t flatten your stomach, it’s unlikely to sabotage your weight loss efforts either – as long as you can resist those post-vape snack attacks.
How to Naturally Speed Up Metabolism Levels
If vaping isn’t the metabolism-boosting remedy some had hoped for, what’s a health-conscious tech enthusiast to do? Fear not. There are plenty of science-backed strategies to rev your body’s fat-burning engine – no nicotine necessary.
Exercise10A. M. KNAB, R. A. SHANELY, K. D. CORBIN, F. JIN, W. SHA, and D. C. NIEMAN, “A 45-Minute Vigorous Exercise Bout Increases Metabolic Rate for 14 Hours,” Medicine & Science in Sports & Exercise, vol. 43, no. 9, pp. 1643–1648, Sep. 2011, doi: https://doi.org/10.1249/mss.0b013e3182118891 is the obvious one. Even light physical activity can kick your metabolism into high gear and start torching calories. Bonus points for strength training, which builds muscle11T. M. Longland, S. Y. Oikawa, C. J. Mitchell, M. C. Devries, and S. M. Phillips, “Higher compared with lower dietary protein during an energy deficit combined with intense exercise promotes greater lean mass gain and fat mass loss: a randomized trial,” The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, vol. 103, no. 3, pp. 738–746, Jan. 2016, doi: https://doi.org/10.3945/ajcn.115.119339, one of the most metabolically active tissues in the body.
Believe it or not, catching more Z’s can also help melt the pounds away. Sleep deprivation wreaks havoc on metabolism12T. W. Kim, J.-H. Jeong, and S.-C. Hong, “The Impact of Sleep and Circadian Disturbance on Hormones and Metabolism,” International Journal of Endocrinology, vol. 2015, no. 591729, pp. 1–9, 2015, doi: https://doi.org/10.1155/2015/591729 and is strongly linked to weight gain. Prioritizing a solid 7-9 hours of shut-eye each night is one of the easiest ways to keep your body’s fat-burning furnace stoked.
Wrapping Up Vaping and Losing Weight
So where does this leave us on the question of vaping for weight loss? With a lot more subtleties than any breathless headline would suggest.
Nicotine vaping can temporarily boost metabolism and may help ex-smokers manage post-quit weight gain. But it’s no substitute for the tried-and-true formula of healthy eating and regular exercise. And let’s not forget the very real health risks that come with inhaling anything into your lungs, from lung inflammation to potential exposure to harmful chemicals.
CBD and THC show some potential as weight loss supporters, but their effects are far from certain and likely vary widely from person to person.
At the end of the day, the path to lasting weight control is paved with moderation, not shortcuts. Vaping might make the journey a bit more scenic, but it won’t magically transport you to your destination. As with any attempt to hack your health with bleeding-edge gimmicks, it pays to take glowing claims with a grain of salt – and maybe a side of leafy greens.
For this heavy vaper, the quest for a slimmer silhouette continues – one puff at a time. But I’ve learned the hard way that there’s no misty shortcut to fitness. True weight loss happens in the kitchen and the gym, not the vape shop. Still, if the occasional nicotine hit helps quiet the hunger beast along the way, who am I to judge?
