Exercise stops you wanting to smoke
Smokers who start exercising could find they lose the desire to light up.
Psychologists at the University of Exeter say even a moderate workout can reduce the smoker’s interest in cigarettes.
They asked 20 smokers to abstain from cigarettes for 15 hours.
Exercise can help reduce a smoker’s urge to light up, scientists have found
The subjects were then shown either smoking-related or neutral images.
They spent the following 15 minutes either resting or pedalling on an exercise bike before they were shown the images again.
The researchers found the smokers who had pedalled spent 11 per cent less time looking at the images than those who had sat down.
It also took longer for them to be interested in the images in the first place.
It’s thought that exercise dampens smoking triggers, such as stress or the desire to drink alcohol, because the hormone boost in the brain after a workout can lead to a temporary euphoric state.
The findings add to previous studies which have shown that brisk walking can reduce cigarette cravings.
