Yes, quitting vaping can cause weight gain because nicotine boosts metabolism and suppresses appetite, so when you stop, your metabolism slows down and hunger increases, but weight gain isn't guaranteed and can be managed with healthy eating and exercise. While some people gain a few pounds, particularly in the first few months, it's often temporary and the health benefits of quitting far outweigh this risk.
The absence of cigarettes or vapes often creates a craving for something to fill that void. Many crave sweets and find themselves indulging in more dessert and snack foods. Whether the craving is due to hunger or boredom, former smokers need to remember to: Delay eating extra foods.
When you quit nicotine vaping, your body may react because it's used to getting nicotine. This can lead to withdrawal symptoms like: strong cravings to smoke or vape. feeling irritable or low in mood.
Vaping does not cause face and belly fat specifically. As we've mentioned, vaping has appetite-suppressing effects due to the chemical nicotine. If you're noticing more fat on your face or belly, it's not down to flavoured e-liquids but probably down to your eating or lifestyle habits.
Smaller Belly
Quitting smoking will reduce your belly fat and lower your risk of diabetes. If you already have diabetes, quitting can help you keep your blood sugar levels in check.
When you quit smoking, you may experience the “icky threes”: extra challenges on day 3, week 3, and month 3 of not smoking. In other words, you may experience additional side effects at the third day, third week, and third month after quitting smoking.
Vaping with nicotine may seem like an effective tool for weight loss due to its potential to decrease appetite. However, vaping for weight control has not been shown to be an effective tool. Weight loss methods that focus on lifestyle changes can provide weight management without the risks associated with vaping.
Some people feel puffy or bloated when they vape, and there are a few reasons why this can happen. Nicotine may cause your body to retain extra water, which can make your face or belly look swollen.
Vapes technically contain trace calories from ingredients like VG, PG, or cannabis oil but they're so minimal they won't affect your fast, diet, or calorie goals. One puff equals roughly 0.02 calories.
No calories in cigarettes or vapes, just nicotine's effects on your body. Nicotine suppresses hunger and cravings. It raises your metabolic rate by 7-15%, burning 50-100 more calories every day. Smoking hand-to-mouth can also substitute munching.
Vape alternatives range from Nicotine Replacement Therapies (NRTs) like patches, gum, and lozenges, to nicotine-free flavored air inhalers (FÜM, Cigtrus) that satisfy oral fixation, to plant-based diffusers (ripple+), and prescription medications (Varenicline, Bupropion), offering ways to manage cravings and quit vaping with options focusing on flavor, habit replacement, or nicotine reduction. Other alternatives include heated tobacco products and nicotine pouches, or adopting lifestyle changes like exercise.
Many believe that smoking, vaping, tobacco or nicotine withdrawal is a difficult and unpleasant stage of quitting, that there will be nicotine headaches and clear signs of nicotine withdrawal such as mood swings, difficulty concentrating and anxiety.
Your brain takes time to adjust without nicotine, which can temporarily affect your mood and focus. Common symptoms include: Anxiety, depression, and mood swings: These often peak around day three. Difficulty concentrating: Tasks may feel harder to focus on.
While most people do put on some weight when they quit, it is usually only a modest amount. The average amount of weight that people gain after stopping smoking is about four to five kilograms over five years. Most of the weight gain occurs in the year after quitting, particularly in the first three months.
Research Link is external, Link opens in new window suggests that nicotine withdrawal can cause changes to the digestive system and how quickly it processes food, leaving you with constipation and bloating. Work with your primary care physician (PCP) to manage those symptoms until your body adjusts.
A study published in the scientific journal Addiction has found that both starting smoking and lifetime smoking may increase abdominal fat, especially visceral fat – the unhealthy fat deep inside the abdomen that is linked to a higher risk of heart disease, diabetes, stroke, and dementia.
Vapes containing nicotine may help prevent weight gain and lead to weight loss. However, vaping is not an effective long-term weight loss method and may have health risks. Nicotine may reduce appetite and food intake and increase metabolism.
Are there any sugars in e-liquids? Some e-liquids do contain small amounts of sugar, but it is near negligible ingredient. Most e-liquids are sweetened with artificial sweeteners carried in vegetable glycerin and propylene glycol, which are calorie-free alternatives to sugar.
Calculating Vape Calories: A Simple Breakdown
So, for instance, if your vape device offers 600 puffs, like our Elf Bar vape pods, it might pack around 30 calories. And if your device holds 10 ml of e-liquid, you're looking at approximately 50 calories for the whole setup.
People who smoke or vape have more stress because they are constantly dealing with the anxiety that nicotine cravings cause. Smoking ages and wrinkles your skin. When you quit, your skin looks younger and healthier.
Association between e-cigarette and bodyweight changes. There are two studies which involve in vitro and human subjects that showed no association between e-cigarette and body weight changes.
Evidence suggests vaping has negative dermatological consequences, particularly exacerbating Atopic Dermatitis (AD). Chemicals in e-cigarette aerosols can cause skin inflammation, impair the skin barrier, and lead to oral mucosal problems.
Some causes of unintentional weight loss include:
While vaping might offer short-term appetite suppression, it does not promote a long-term, sustainable approach to weight loss. Successful weight loss is primarily driven by consistent physical activity, a balanced diet, and healthy lifestyle habits.
A study published in Journal of Adolescence that focused on young people aged 12-17 found that vaping nicotine (as well as dual smoking and vaping) is significantly associated with greater odds of reporting sleep problems such as sleeping restlessly, bad dreams, and daytime fatigue.