Does Vaping Make You Lose Weight? The Answer Might Shock You

Does Vaping Make You Lose Weight?

Does vaping make you lose weight? If you’re currently dieting or you’re concerned about losing weight then you’re probably looking for any answer to this very question.

Often, when people start vaping they wonder what impact their new hobby can have on their weight. Some are concerned that using an e-cig may cause them to pile on the pounds, while others find themselves trawling the internet with searches like “do vapes make you lose weight”.

We understand why knowing the answer to these questions may be important, so without further ado let’s take a look at the facts and find out whether vaping can indeed cause you to lose weight.

Does Vaping Make You Lose Weight? Metabolism

To understand whether vaping has any effect on weight, we need to look at the effects nicotine has on the human body, and in particular metabolism.

Our metabolism is basically the chemical reaction in our cells that change food into energy, and your body’s ability to properly perform this function can have a major impact on your weight.

For example, if you’re someone who has a high metabolic rate, it means your body uses energy more rapidly than someone who has a slower metabolism, which has a direct influence on body weight.

A number of factors can influence your metabolic rate, such as age, sex, weight, muscle-to-fat ratio and your level of physical activity. Along with the type of food we consume, there are other things that can affect our metabolism, too, and one of them just so happens to be nicotine.

Nicotine has been proven to increase metabolic rate, speeding up how quickly your body burns calories. So if you’re looking for an answer to the question “does vaping make you lose weight?” then the answer is yes, it could.

Will Quitting Nicotine Cause Weight Gain?

So now we’ve established that vaping can indeed cause weight loss, it’s logical to wonder whether giving up nicotine will have the opposite effect and cause you to pile on the pounds.

In truth, if you quit nicotine then there’s a good chance you’ll experience some weight gain, although this is unlikely to be anything major.

As well as a decrease in metabolic speed, there are a number of reasons why quitting nicotine can cause weight gain, including:

Nicotine suppresses appetite so without it you might feel the urge to eat more
Insulin levels will return to normal which can also cause hunger
Just like smoking, eating can lead to dopamine release, so ex-smokers often try to replace one with the other
Your taste buds will suddenly return to their former glory so with things tasting extra yummy you might well be tempted to eat more!

This isn’t to say that you’ll suddenly balloon to the size of a small country once you quit nicotine – any weight gain will usually be quite limited and once your body gets used to being nicotine-free your waistline should return to normal.

If you’re concerned about gaining weight then the best thing to do is to try not to succumb to the inevitable hunger strikes and stick to your usual calorie intake. That should help you avoid any nasty surprises the next time you climb on the scales!

Summary

So does vaping make you lose weight? Well the answer is yes, it could. While you aren’t going to drop multiple sizes all of a sudden, vaping can speed up your metabolism and suppress appetite. So, in theory, it’s true that using an e-cig could help you keep the pounds off.

With that said, we’d never encourage anyone to start vaping just for that reason. While obesity is one of the biggest risks to public health, if losing weight is your only goal then vaping certainly isn’t the way to do it. E-cigarettes and e-liquids they’re used with are addictive and designed purely to help people quit smoking. So unless that’s your primary reason for picking up a vape then we’d always advise against it.

If you’re flirting with the idea of vaping then chances are you’re a smoker. If so, check out our ‘What Happens to Your Body When You Stop Smoking?’ blog post to learn all about the health benefits you’ll enjoy when you kick cigarettes into touch!