Effects of Swimming and Access to Sweet Food on Nicotine Cessation-Induced Weight Gain.

摘要

One reason given by cigarette smokers for continuing to smoke despite the serious health consequences of cigarette smoking is that they do not want to gain weight by quitting smoking. Although the inverse relationship between nicotine and body weight is well-established, effective methods for preventing nicotine cessation-induced weight gain have not been determined. Exercise and restricting access to sweet foods may prevent this weight gain. This study used a chronic nicotine administration paradigm in rats, which has previously provided findings concerning nicotine and body weight that generalize to human smokers, to examine the effects of exercise and access to sweet food on nicotine cessation-induced weight gain, food intake, energy efficiency, plasma insulin levels, and on an index of fatness. Nicotine administration reduced rate of weight gain, caloric intake, sweet food intake, and energy efficiency. Nicotine cessation increased rate of weight gain, total caloric intake, sweet food intake, and energy efficiency compared to nicotine administration levels. Proportion of body fat remained lower in nicotine treated rats than in saline controls five weeks after cessation of nicotine administration. Exercise reduced rate of weight gain, total caloric consumption, energy efficiency, proportion of body fat, and plasma insulin levels. Access to sweet food reduced rate of weight gain, caloric consumption, and food efficiency in rats receiving nicotine, but not in saline controls. Access to sweet food also reduced caloric consumption during nicotine cessation, but increased proportion of body fat and plasma insulin levels. The results of this study indicate that exercise provides effective protection against nicotine cessation-induced weight gain, regardless of access to sweet food. However, restricting access to sweet food reduces proportion of body fat in sedentary rats.