Can You Lose Weight on Nicotine Patches?

I have to admit that this topic is a bit new for me. I just saw it on Instagram. Thus, I started my research on nicotine patches for weight loss to find out the answer. And here are the things I found out.

Nicotine Patches for Weight Loss: Do They Work?

The short answer is, “No.” I couldn’t find any scientific studies about nicotine patches to promote weight or help in losing weight.

Nicotine, per se, is a drug that tells our brains to release dopamine, serotonin, and other feel-good chemicals. Somehow, it can act as an appetite suppressant. That’s why many promoters of these patches claim they help them lose weight.

When you use nicotine instead of exercising or eating the right food, you’re trading one addictive substance for another. Thus, it’s not sustainable.

Does Nicotine Reduce Belly Fat?

No, it doesn’t reduce belly fat. In fact, it can lead to weight gain and increase your belly fat. The behavior, smoking, causes an increase in body fat. This particular behavior is causing the person to gain weight.

But it’s not just the behavior. Smoking, per se, can cause belly fat as it disrupts hormones. It also increases stress hormones. All of these can cause the body to store fat around the abdomen. What’s worse is that even if your overall weight isn’t affected, you may notice some changes in your abdomen.

Can Nicotine Make Me Lose My Appetite?

Yes, nicotine can reduce appetite. It also alters feeding patterns, resulting in reduced body weight, according to this study. This is the reason you gain weight when you stop smoking.

Unfortunately, scientists couldn’t fully understand the reason for it. However, it can be due to nicotine no longer affecting your central nervous system. As mentioned, this substance activates some parts of your brain that regulate your food intake and hormones, thereby affecting your body’s energy use.

What are the Health Benefits of Wearing a Nicotine Patch?

There are many health benefits of wearing this patch. Unfortunately, weight loss isn’t one of them. But it does help in reducing your withdrawal symptoms.

Lowers Withdrawal Symptoms

It can ease withdrawal symptoms. Often, these symptoms can derail your plan to quit smoking. These are also some of the reasons many smokers don’t want to quit because they just don’t like to experience headaches, restlessness, and intense cravings, among others.

Eliminates Your Exposure to the Harmful Chemicals in Cigarettes

Nicotine isn’t the main cause of the diseases as a result from smoking. Keep in mind that cigarettes contain not just nicotine but also tar, ammonia, arsenic, benzene, carbon monoxide, and other toxic substances. And these chemicals aren’t in those nicotine patches. That’s why they’re suggested or recommended by some doctors if you have difficulty quitting.

Then again, nicotine patches aren’t the answer to your weight loss woes.

Improves Lung Health

People notice improvement in their lung function just days of quitting smoking. With the help of these patches, this improvement continues and prevents relapse. As you replace smoking with the patch, your lung tissue starts healing while your mucus clearance improves.

Reduces Secondhand Smoke

This is an often-overlooked benefit of wearing nicotine patches instead of smoking. Remember that secondhand smoke increases the risks of asthma attacks, respiratory infections, ear infections in kids, lung cancer in non-smokers, and many more.

When you choose the nicotine patch, you’re protecting those around you from environmental harm.

Improves Sleep

Some smokers experience restless nights once they stop smoking. The nicotine patch can help stabilize nicotine levels and reduce nighttime discomfort. Patients reported fewer sleep disruptions when they wear these patches, while others reported less nighttime coughing.

What to Do When You Gain Weight After You Stop Smoking?

Nicotine patches aren’t proven to promote weight loss. It’s only those influencers who said that they can help with weight. The good thing is that there are various ways to keep your weight steady.

Plan Ahead

This is where meal planning becomes helpful. It makes you plan meals and snacks. In that way, you won’t stray off course. You can avoid impulsively reaching for something unhealthy. In addition to meal planning, you should also prioritize eating fruits and vegetables. And make sure to limit sugar, sodium, and trans fats.

Most of all, read food labels. In that way, you know how many calories you’re eating per package. This will help you make better choices.

Control Portions

Meal planning can help you do this. Portion control is vital to help you from eating or drinking more than you need. When you do meal planning, you can control your portion sizes. You also don’t have to guess how many calories you’re eating since your meal is already planned.

Exercise

Exercise does burn calories. It may also help you control your appetite. But not all people experience it. Then again, exercising daily can help you manage your stress while keeping your weight in check. Exercise also helps boost your metabolism.

For me, the best exercise to lose weight or burn calories is to jump rope. Every day, I do 5,000 jumps. But I don’t just jump rope. I also weight train.

Learn Mindful Eating

Staying mindful can help you select the food that you eat. And it’s the nourishment that makes better choices. To start mindful eating, take the time to eat. Sit down for meals. Turn off any distractions. It means don’t watch Netflix when eating. Focus on eating the food in front of you. When you feel full, stop eating.

Find a Professional Help

You may need professional help to guide you with portion sizes, for instance, A nutritionist or a dietitian can help. An expert can provide personalized advice and help you create an individualized plan.

Nicotine Patches as a Weight Loss Tool

Nicotine patches aren’t proven to promote weight loss. There are no studies about it. But they can be effective in helping you quit smoking, but not in losing weight. For Keto Dieters, Can the Keto Diet Cause High Cholesterol?