The association of smoking with different eating and dietary behaviours: A cross‐sectional analysis of 80 296 United Kingdom adults
Open accessAbstract
Background and aims Smokers typically have a lower body mass index (BMI) than non-smokers, while smoking cessation is associated with weight gain. In pre-clinical research, nicotine in tobacco smoking suppresses appetite and influences subsequent eating behaviour; however, this relationship is unclear in humans. This study measured the associations of smoking with different eating and dietary behaviours. Design A cross-sectional analysis of data from health assessments conducted between 2004 and 2022. Setting An independent healthcare-based charity within the United Kingdom. Participants A total of 80 296 men and women (mean ± standard deviation [SD]: age, 43.0 ± 10.4 years; BMI, 25.7 ± 4.2 kg/m 2 ; 62.5% male) stratified into two groups based on their status as a smoker (n = 6042; 7.5%) or non-smoker (n = 74 254; 92.5%). Measurements Smoking status (self-report) was the main exposure, while the primary outcomes were selected eating and dietary behaviours. Age, sex and socioeconomic status (index of multiple deprivation [IMD]) were included as covariates and interaction terms, while moderate-to-vigorous exercise and sleep quality were included as covariates only. Findings Smokers had lower odds of snacking between meals and eating food as a reward or out of boredom versus non-smokers (all odds ratio [OR] ≤ 0.82; P Conclusions Smoking appears to be associated with eating and dietary behaviours consistent with inhibited food intake, low diet quality and altered food preference.…
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Nicotine has appetite-suppressing effects, leading many smokers to report reduced food intake.
“Nicotine, the primary psychoactive component of tobacco, is known to cause appetite-suppressing effects leading many smokers to report reduced food intake on one hand”
From Smoking and its impact on eating behavior: A review (2026) · cites this paper as [3]
Nicotine interacts with the brain's reward system and alters neurotransmitter activity, particularly dopamine and serotonin, which play key roles in hunger and satiety regulation.
“Studies have shown that nicotine interacts with the brain's reward system and alters neurotransmitter activity, particularly dopamine and serotonin, which play key roles in hunger and satiety regulation [2, 3, 4, 5-6].”
From Smoking and its impact on eating behavior: A review (2026) · cites this paper as [3]
Individuals who quit smoking typically gain between 3 to 9 kilograms within the first eight years of cessation, with most weight gain occurring within the initial six months.
“Studies have shown that individuals who quit smoking typically gain between 3 to 9 kilograms within the first eight years of cessation, with most weight gain occurring within the initial six months.”
From Smoking and its impact on eating behavior: A review (2026) · cites this paper as [3]
Approximately 10% of quitters may experience a weight increase of around 13 kilograms.
“Approximately 10% of quitters may experience a weight increase of around 13 kilograms.”
From Smoking and its impact on eating behavior: A review (2026) · cites this paper as [3]
Post-cessation weight gain can diminish some health benefits of quitting, such as improvements in lung function, and may increase risk of type 2 diabetes and hypertension.
“This post-cessation weight gain can diminish some health benefits of quitting, such as improvements in lung function and may increase the risk of developing type 2 diabetes and hypertension [3].”
From Smoking and its impact on eating behavior: A review (2026) · cites this paper as [3]
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Alruwaili, A., Nayeemullah, R., Engin, B., Malaikah, S., James, L., Sanders, J. P., Thivel, D., Thackray, A. E., Stensel, D. J., King, J. A., et al. (2025) · Appetite · doi:10.1016/j.appet.2025.108194 · Cited by 6 · see citing works
Self-citationSmoking and its impact on eating behavior: A review
Department of Oral Pathology and Microbiology, M. A. D. C. A. H., Prabhakar, M., Bottu, K., Department of Oral Pathology and Microbiology, M. A. D. C. A. H., Chaly, P. E., Department of Public Health Dentistry, M. A. D. C. A. H., S.G, R. K., Department of Public Health Dentistry, T. G. D. C. A. H., M, A., & Department of Psychiatry, M. M. C. H. A. R. I. (2026) · Bioinformation · doi:10.6026/973206300220132
- Authors
- Alruwaili, A., King, J. A., Deighton, K., Kelly, B. M., Liao, Z., Innes, A., Henson, J., Yates, T., Johnson, W., Thivel, D., Metz, L., Thackray, A. E., Tolfrey, K., Stensel, D. J., & Willis, S. A.
- Affiliations
- Loughborough University (GB)
- Nuffield Health (GB)
- Manchester Metropolitan University (GB)
- University of Leicester (GB)
- Université Clermont Auvergne (FR)
- Corresponding author
- Willis, Scott A.
- ORCID
- Venue
- Addiction
- Publisher
- Wiley
- Published
- 2024-06-17
- Volume
- 119
- Issue
- 10
- Pages
- 1737-1750
- ISSN
- 0965-2140 (ISSN-L)
- 1360-0443
- OpenAlex
- W4399748310
- Cited by
- 24
- References
- 3
- Citations by year
- 2026: 12 · 2025: 12
- FWCI
- 6.79
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- hybrid
- doi.org
- Licence
- Locations
- Addiction (publishedVersion, cc-by)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- Figshare (submittedVersion, cc-by)
- Funders
- King Saud bin Abdulaziz University for Health Science
- Topics
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Physiology › Smoking Behavior and Cessation
- Health Sciences › Nursing › Nutrition and Dietetics › Nutrition, Health and Food Behavior
- Social Sciences › Psychology › Clinical Psychology › Eating Disorders and Behaviors
- Keywords
- smoking, eating behaviour, dietary behaviour, snacking, meal skipping, food reward, appetite, salt and sugar intake, overeating, fried food consumption, diet quality, food preferences, socioeconomic status, age and sex differences, nicotine
- MeSH terms
- Sleep Quality, Adult, Cross-Sectional Studies, Diet, Feeding Behavior, Female, United Kingdom, Humans, Male, Middle Aged, Smoking, Exercise, Body Mass Index, Snacks
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