A new study out of the UK looked at the eating behaviors of >80,000 smokers and non-smokers. Overall, smokers were less likely than non-smokers to eat food as a reward, eat out of boredom, anger, or stress, snack between meals, or eat sweets for dessert. They also ate fewer meals daily and were likelier to go three hours without food. Despite these behaviors, the smokers in the study were, on average, slightly heavier than the non-smokers observed. While there is a well-supported theory that nicotine suppresses appetite and speeds metabolism, it is important to note that this study was observational and cannot prove causation.
The smokers in the study were also younger. They were not as financially as well off as the non-smokers, both of which may mediate the influence of nicotine on dietary behaviors. The study also breaks down the dietary behaviors by age and sex, revealing interesting and potentially important differences. The connection between smoking, cessation, and dietary behaviors has important implications for both clinical support and public health policy.