Does vaping help you lose weight?

Vaping has become an incredibly popular habit. With sleek, high-tech devices and a variety of e-liquid flavors to choose from, it's easy to see why vaping is catching on with so many people.

Does vaping help you lose weight? How does nicotine cause weight loss? And is vaping even safe for losing weight?

If you are currently dieting or interested in losing weight, you are probably looking for an answer to this very question.

In this post, we want to explore the possible connection between vaping and weight loss and find scientifically based answers to these questions.

What is vaping?

Vapes, or e-cigarettes, come in many shapes and sizes. They are battery-operated devices that heat a liquid to create vapor that is then inhaled – mimicking the act of smoking.

The e-liquids, also called vape juice, contain chemicals and artificial flavors that can have different nicotine levels.

Vapes are mainly used to vaporize e-liquid solutions that contain nicotine. The devices can also be used to inhale other drugs such as THC (cannabis) or nicotine-free “e-liquids”.

What ingredients are in vapes?

In general, vapes consist of several ingredients, including nicotine.

These ingredients contain virtually no calories, so vaping itself does not lead to weight gain.

nicotine

Nicotine is a highly addictive stimulant found in tobacco and e-cigarettes. It is quickly absorbed into the bloodstream.

Vegetable glycerin

Vegetable glycerin (or glycerine) is usually referred to as “VG” on packaging. This product is a sweet-tasting, odorless, colorless liquid derived from plants and is responsible for the clouds that evaporate from your device.

VG is a food-grade liquid and is commonly used as a thickener in all kinds of food-grade products, from foods and toothpaste to medicines.

Propylene glycol

Propylene glycol (PG for short) is a clear, largely odorless liquid that serves as a carrier for nicotine and possible flavors.

Additionally, since PG is a food-grade substance, it is found in a wide range of well-known food-grade products, such as liquid sweeteners, ice cream, and even artificial tears!

Flavors

Food-grade flavors are added to the e-liquid to give the liquid its distinctive taste. This is another food-grade product that is found in all kinds of food products.

What effects does vaping have on your health?

The chemicals produced when tobacco is burned are also considered to trigger a variety of other illnesses and complaints, which is why medical experts warn against cigarette smoking.

Most smokers want to quit, but nicotine is difficult to quit once you're addicted. For those who are trying to quit smoking, vaping can be a way to kick the habit.

The good thing about vaping is that there is no tobacco combustion, no process that leads to the release of harmful compounds, as is the case with traditional cigarettes. So there is less lung damage and it is safer.

However, there is no denying that the chemicals in the liquids as well as the nicotine content are not the best for your overall health and well-being.

Studies from the University of North Carolina have shown that propylene glycol and vegetable glycerin are toxic to the body's cells and other harmful chemicals can cause lung disease and cardiovascular disease.

In addition, nicotine is a harmful and highly addictive chemical that not only causes addictive behavior and withdrawal symptoms, but can also increase blood pressure, heart rate, and blood flow to the heart.

Does vaping cause weight loss?

Weight loss is a complex process that is influenced by various factors, including individual metabolism, diet, physical activity and general lifestyle.

Smokers tend to weigh less than non-smokers: this is a scientifically proven fact.

So how does vaping work for weight control? It all depends on the effect of nicotine.

1. Nicotine acts as a stimulant and affects hormones such as dopamine and norepinephrine, which boost your metabolism and speed up calorie burning.

2. Nicotine is an appetite suppressant that inhibits the body's expectation of food and reduces the feeling of hunger.

This is because nicotine is said to increase the effects of leptin, the satiety hormone.

In addition, nicotine can affect your taste buds and dull your senses, making food seem less appetizing and ultimately causing you to eat less.

3. Vaping is a way to treat yourself. People LIKE sweets. If they're not vaping and they're craving a sweet treat, they might eat chocolate instead.

The rewarding effect of eating is essentially replaced by the rewarding effect of vaping, so the ritual of vaping can reduce your food intake and help lower your body weight.

4. Nicotine lowers insulin levels in the blood and increases blood sugar levels. This makes energy available in the blood to go where it is needed.

5. Nicotine activates the sympathetic nervous system, which leads to increased lipolysis in white adipose tissue, which contributes to weight loss.

Is weight gain common after quitting smoking?

It is estimated that people who quit vaping can gain up to 10 kg – sometimes more – within 12 months of quitting smoking.

In fact, vaping just to lose weight and quitting once you reach your goal can actually cause weight gain. This happens for five reasons:

1. Nicotine increases metabolism. Giving up nicotine reduces these metabolic peaks and slows down the body's fat burning.

2. Nicotine suppresses appetite. The loss of the appetite-suppressing effect of vaping can lead to increased food intake.

After giving up nicotine, your taste buds return to their natural state. Since you can enjoy flavors better, you might be tempted to eat more!

3. Former smokers tend to respond to cravings and other compulsions by eating. This can increase their calorie intake and eventually lead to weight gain.

4. By giving up nicotine, insulin levels normalize, reducing the amount of energy available in the blood. This may lead to a higher calorie intake to compensate.

5. The cognitive effects of nicotine withdrawal can impair many brain functions, including mood regulation and dopamine release.

Because eating junk food can cause the release of dopamine, it is often used as a means of self-comfort.

Can I lose weight by smoking THC/CBD weed?

Vaping doesn't always have to be a nicotine-based experience. There are many vape products that use CBD or THC.

CBD stands for cannabidiol and THC for tetrahydrocannabinol. Both are substances found in cannabis plants.

We need to consider how cannabis vaping affects weight gain. The situation is slightly different when we consider vaping products made from hemp and cannabis instead of tobacco.

THC is actually an appetite stimulant. It is a fact that people who use vapes with THC vaporizers experience an increased appetite. This could be beneficial for those who want to gain weight instead of losing weight.

CBD may help convert white fat into brown fat, which in turn helps burn calories. Additionally, unlike THC, CBD may actually block certain receptors that trigger hunger, thus reducing appetite.

What is the safest way to lose weight?

Since vaping is not a safe method for losing weight and can have harmful effects on your health, let's look at the best method for losing weight.

A healthy diet and a regular exercise program are two of the most important decisions you can make to lose weight and keep it off.

One way to lower your calorie intake is to eat more plant-based foods – fruits, vegetables and whole grains. Make sure to include variety so you can reach your goals without sacrificing taste or nutrients.

In addition, regular physical activity and calorie restriction can help you lose weight. Exercise can help you burn the excess calories that you cannot burn off through diet alone.

Sugar-free gum is a healthier and more cost-effective alternative to achieve a similar appetite-suppressing effect without smoking. Chewing gum can help reduce feelings of hunger or cravings, which can benefit weight control. Some people even use it to reduce their cravings or cravings for sugary snacks.

Diploma

Nicotine suppresses appetite, increases metabolism, and can reduce cravings. This can help you control your weight.

However, the effects of nicotine are too short-lived and one basically has to become addicted for these effects to become noticeable.

Vaping can still cause a number of health problems, can be highly addictive, and in certain cases can even deliver higher doses of nicotine than regular cigarettes.

Obviously, it is absolutely not worth being addicted to nicotine in order to lose weight. If you are a non-smoker, it is not recommended to consider vaping as a means of weight loss.

Vaping can help you gradually quit smoking and eventually kick the habit. In this case, you can try vaping as a short-term smoking cessation strategy, but not as a weight loss method.

Turning to unhealthy addictions in the hopes of controlling your weight can lead to long-term health problems that negate the benefits of weight loss.

For sustainable weight loss, it is generally recommended to use healthy and balanced methods such as a nutrient-rich diet and regular exercise.