<p> Smokers who are trying to cut down or quit might want to take a jog the next time a cigarette craving overcomes them, according to a British study.<br /><br /></p>.<p>Researchers, whose findings appeared in the journal Addiction, combined the data from 19 previous clinical trials and found that a bout of exercise generally helped hopeful quitters reduce their nicotine cravings — though whether that translated into a greater chance of quitting was unclear.<br /><br />“Certainly, exercise seems to have temporary benefits, and as such can be strongly recommended,” said Adrian Taylor, a professor of exercise and health psychology at the University of Exeter in Britain, who led the study.<br /><br />In the trials used for the study, smokers were randomly assigned to either exercise - most often, brisk walking or biking — or some kind of “passive” activity, such as watching a video or just sitting quietly. <br /><br />Overall, Taylor’s team found, people said they had less desire to smoke after working out than they did before.<br /><br />Exactly why is not clear. Exercise may serve as a distraction, while being active might also boost people’s mood, so that they don’t feel as great a need to feel better by smoking. None of the smokers in the studies was in a quit program or using nicotine replacement products, such as gums or patches. Since nicotine replacement therapy curbs cravings, exercise might have less of an effect on smokers using these products.<br /><br /></p>
<p> Smokers who are trying to cut down or quit might want to take a jog the next time a cigarette craving overcomes them, according to a British study.<br /><br /></p>.<p>Researchers, whose findings appeared in the journal Addiction, combined the data from 19 previous clinical trials and found that a bout of exercise generally helped hopeful quitters reduce their nicotine cravings — though whether that translated into a greater chance of quitting was unclear.<br /><br />“Certainly, exercise seems to have temporary benefits, and as such can be strongly recommended,” said Adrian Taylor, a professor of exercise and health psychology at the University of Exeter in Britain, who led the study.<br /><br />In the trials used for the study, smokers were randomly assigned to either exercise - most often, brisk walking or biking — or some kind of “passive” activity, such as watching a video or just sitting quietly. <br /><br />Overall, Taylor’s team found, people said they had less desire to smoke after working out than they did before.<br /><br />Exactly why is not clear. Exercise may serve as a distraction, while being active might also boost people’s mood, so that they don’t feel as great a need to feel better by smoking. None of the smokers in the studies was in a quit program or using nicotine replacement products, such as gums or patches. Since nicotine replacement therapy curbs cravings, exercise might have less of an effect on smokers using these products.<br /><br /></p>