There is strong evidence that physical activity acutely reduces cigarette craving
AIMS To conduct an up date d systematic review and the first meta- analysis of experimental trials investigating the acute effects of short bouts of physical activity ( PA ) on strength of desire ( SoD ) and desire to smoke ( DtS ) using individual participant data ( IPD ) .
The effect of exercise in reducing desire to smoke and cigarette withdrawal symptoms is not caused by distraction.
AIMS AND DESIGN Moderate-intensity exercise has been shown to reduce common smoking withdrawal symptoms and desire to smoke in acutely abstinent smokers . The aim of the present study was to determine if this was caused by distraction . A secondary aim was to determine whether exercise-related changes in affect were related to a reduction in symptoms . METHODS Forty ' sedentary ' participants who had smoked at least 10 or more cigarettes per day for at least 3 years were assigned r and omly to one of two groups . They completed either 10 minutes of moderate-intensity exercise on a stationary bicycle ergometer or 10 minutes of a cognitive distraction task ( paced visual serial addition task , PVSAT ) after 11 - 15 hours of smoking abstinence . Participants rated smoking withdrawal symptoms and desire to smoke using st and ard scales at 10 , 5 and 0 minutes before the experimental intervention , then at 5 and 10 minutes after the start of the intervention and 5 and 10 minutes after its completion . FINDINGS Significant group x time interactions were observed for ratings of desire to smoke and several withdrawal symptoms ( irritability , depression , restlessness , difficulty concentrating and stress ) . There was a reduction in ratings during and immediately following exercise that was not observed with cognitive distraction . Also it was found the effects were not mediated by changes in affect observed in the exercise condition . CONCLUSIONS A brief bout of moderate-intensity exercise can lead to a rapid reduction in desire to smoke and withdrawal discomfort , which is not due to the distracting effect of exercise or the effects of mood . These findings support recommendations to smokers to use exercise as a means of helping cope with the difficulties encountered when they try to stop
There is strong evidence that physical activity acutely reduces cigarette craving
AIMS To conduct an up date d systematic review and the first meta- analysis of experimental trials investigating the acute effects of short bouts of physical activity ( PA ) on strength of desire ( SoD ) and desire to smoke ( DtS ) using individual participant data ( IPD ) .