A recent U.S. study reveals that former smokers experiencing intense nicotine withdrawal consume more calories, often turning to junk food loaded with fat and sugar.
A 2016 Australian study explored junk food's impact on intelligence through experiments on mice. Researchers observed shifts in intestinal microbiota composition, with junk food-addicted rodents showing poorer performance in memory and cognitive flexibility tests.
Another study, published in the Journal of Drug and Alcohol Dependence on August 1, 2021, by the University of Minnesota Medical School's Department of Psychiatry, links the opioid system to ex-smokers' preference for fatty and sugary foods to cope with the void left by nicotine.
Distributed widely in the central nervous system and peripheral tissues, opioid peptides and receptors regulate addiction and appetite. The researchers explain that upon quitting smoking, this system steers individuals toward junk food, raising the risk of weight gain.
Clinicians examined smokers and non-smokers aged 19 to 75 to uncover mechanisms behind quitting. The study assessed if acute nicotine withdrawal boosts junk food intake and how the opioid system's anti-stress receptors respond. Results confirm higher calorie consumption during withdrawal.
High-sugar, high-fat (and salty) foods provide relief from the distress of quitting. These findings underscore the need for tailored support to help quitters avoid significant weight gain—a common fear that deters many smokers.
