Does Vaping Make You Lose Weight? Let’s Explore The Truth 2024

Smoking cigarettes has been considered helpful in controlling body weight for many years because of their appetite-suppressing effects. Ads in the 1930s had this front and center, appealing for women to reach for a cigarette instead of a sweet. With vaping becoming an increasingly popular alternative to cigarettes and more people quitting smoking, many now wonder: Does vaping make you lose weight? In truth, it is not as straightforward as it sounds. 

Vaping can be a factor in weight control and loss. However, it comes with its own risk factors, every bit as dangerous as those associated with excess weight. If weight loss is your goal, there are many better healthy habits to help you achieve it. We’ll go into those in due course. 

First, let’s separate the fact from the fiction regarding the question, “Can nicotine make you lose weight?”

Why Does Vaping Make You Lose Weight?

If you want to lose weight, you may be surprised to learn that vaping can help you achieve your goals. 

Vaping contains nicotine, which is an appetite suppressant. Does nicotine make you skinny? No, it doesn’t. But nicotine can help you feel full faster, reducing your food intake and leading to weight loss.

Nicotine can also stimulate your metabolism. Boosting your metabolism will cause your body to burn calories more quickly, making you lose weight. This is why some people use nicotine patches and gum as a weight loss aid.

Another way that vaping can help you lose weight is by replacing high-calorie snacks with vaping. Many people turn to snacks when they are bored or stressed, which can lead to weight gain. Vaping can provide a similar oral fixation- mimicking the hand-to-mouth action- without the calories, helping you avoid unnecessary snacking.

However, nicotine is also a very addictive and harmful substance^[1] often used in times of high body image concerns many smokers maintain regarding appetite suppression and making themselves look skinny.  Although e-liquids will suppress appetite and boost metabolism, the health risks it brings– which we’ll go into more detail on shortly- far outweigh any benefits.

What Type Of Vaping Can Promote Weight Loss?

There are nicotine and non-nicotine vaping options.

Different vaping devices, such as e-cigarettes, vape pens, and pod systems, are available in the market. E-cigarettes are the most common type, available in various flavors and nicotine strengths.

Nicotine is the chemical from vapes that contributes to weight loss; therefore, nicotine vaping helps weight loss by reducing calorie intake and increasing resting metabolic rate. 

Other non-nicotine vapes can help people quit smoking but lack the chemical properties present in the nicotine that help with weight loss.

Are There Any Risks?

The question “Do vapes make you lose weight?” is very different from “Is vaping a healthy weight loss strategy?” 

Nicotine is a highly addictive and dangerous chemical.^[1] It can cause an increase in blood pressure, heart rate, blood flow to the heart, and narrowing of the arteries. Also, nicotine intake may contribute to arterial hardening, which can cause a heart attack if you smoke too often. 

Additionally, vaping may lead to other health risks.^[2] The chemicals^[3] in e-cigarettes can cause lung inflammation, leading to chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. Vaping can also increase your risk of developing respiratory infections like pneumonia or bronchitis.

This chemical can stay in your system for six to eight hours, depending on how often you smoke. There are also withdrawal effects associated with most addictive substances. Newer tobacco products and e-cigarettes may even deliver more nicotine content than traditional cigarettes.

While some may experience weight loss with vaping, it is important to understand this is not a guaranteed outcome. In fact, there is no direct evidence to suggest that vaping could help with weight loss. While the nicotine in vape juice may suppress hunger, it is an addictive substance that stimulates dopamine release, thus making addiction more likely.^[4]

It is not a sustainable or healthy way to lose weight.

Should You Vape As A Weight Loss Method?

Before using vaping for weight loss, it is vital to consider the potential drawbacks. While vaping is less harmful than tobacco smoking, vaping e-liquids do not come without risks.

Firstly, it is important to note that vaping is not a healthy habit. While it may be less harmful than smoking cigarettes, vaping still poses risks to your lungs and overall health. Additionally, vaping is not a sustainable weight loss method. While nicotine suppresses appetite and may help you lose weight in the short term, you must continue vaping indefinitely to maintain your weight loss.

Furthermore, relying on vaping as a weight loss method may lead to an unhealthy lifestyle. For example, you may be more likely to indulge in unhealthy foods or skip meals, thinking that vaping will make up for it. This can lead to an unhealthy relationship with food and an unbalanced diet.

In addition, you will experience weight gain if you decide to quit cigarettes or discontinue vaping. In the long term, weight gain will occur if you try quitting cigarettes, thus thwarting all attempts at appetite suppression and weight management. Most people gain five to ten pounds^[5] with smoking cessation.

Finally, it is important to consider the potential financial costs of vaping as a weight loss method. Vaping can be expensive, with the cost of e-juice, coils, and other accessories adding up over time.

In conclusion, while vaping may have some potential benefits for weight loss, it is not a healthy or sustainable weight loss method.

How To Lose Weight Safely?

While vaping has potential weight loss benefits, many healthier- and more sustainable- methods exist to achieve the same goal.

• Eat a balanced, healthy diet: Choose whole, nutrient-dense foods like fruits, vegetables, lean proteins, and healthy fats. Processed junk foods, sugary drinks, and excessive alcohol consumption should be avoided.
• Engage in regular exercise: Do something you enjoy, such as walking, swimming, or dancing, for at least 30 minutes daily. Get 150 minutes of physical activity per week.
• Adequate sleep: Make sure you get enough sleep every night. Sleep deprivation can disrupt your hormones and make you gain weight. Try to sleep for at least 7-8 hours every night.
• Control your stress: Stress can lead to overeating and gaining weight, so find healthy ways to manage it, such as meditation, yoga, or deep breathing exercises. Practice mindful eating.
• Sugar-free gum: Sugar-free gum is a great way to keep your mouth working without adding calories or addictive substances to your system. 
• Be adequately hydrated: Drinking enough water can reduce your appetite and make you feel full. Aim for at least eight glasses of water a day.

Remember, losing weight takes time and patience. Refrain from expecting overnight results, and don’t resort to shortcuts or extreme measures such as crash diets and excessive exercise. Focus on making sustainable lifestyle changes that will benefit your health and well-being in the long run.

The Bottom Line

So, can vapes make you lose weight? Does vaping make you fat or skinny?

While vaping nicotine can help with weight reduction, it is not a recommended weight-loss tool. The potential risks, including addiction to nicotine and other harmful chemicals, far outweigh the potential benefits.

There are many other safer-indeed, more effective ways to lose weight if you want to. Maintaining a healthy weight requires eating a balanced diet, engaging in an exercise routine daily, and getting enough sleep. You can also lose weight with the support of friends, family, or healthcare professionals. In addition, practice mindful eating to reduce food cravings and avoid the temptation to give in to sugary foods.

If you currently vape, being aware of its potential side effects and risks is crucial. Some of these include lung damage, heart disease, and nicotine addiction. If you consider vaping to lose weight or prevent weight gain, discussing the potential risks and benefits with your healthcare provider is important. Finding an exercise regime and a meal plan you can stick to is a much healthier option for your body and long-term health.

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