Tag: Health risks of smoking

While it may be a common perception that smoking can help manage weight, research indicates that the effects are complex and misleading. The nicotine in cigarettes does act as an appetite suppressant in the short term, but long-term smoking can lead to a less healthy body composition, including increased visceral fat. Using cigarettes to decrease your appetite is a high-risk strategy with severe health consequences.

According to the CDC, cigarette smoking is the leading cause of preventable disease and death in the United States. One persistent myth suggests that smoking has calories or can be a tool for weight control, but this is a dangerous misconception that can distract from the severe health consequences.

According to the Food and Nutrition Board (FNB), individuals who smoke need 35 mg more vitamin C per day than their non-smoking counterparts. This crucial nutritional adjustment is required because smoking significantly increases the body's demand for this vital nutrient to combat the harmful effects of increased oxidative stress.