Acute effects of a short bout of moderate versus light intensity exercise versus inactivity on tobacco withdrawal symptoms in sedentary smokers. Psychopharmacology, 174 (3). pp. 320-326. ISSN 0033-3158 Available from: http://eprints.uwe.ac.uk/8196We recommend you cite the published version. The publisher's URL is: http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s00213-003-1762-x Refereed: YesThe original publication is available at www.springerlink.com Disclaimer UWE has obtained warranties from all depositors as to their title in the material deposited and as to their right to deposit such material. UWE makes no representation or warranties of commercial utility, title, or fitness for a particular purpose or any other warranty, express or implied in respect of any material deposited. UWE makes no representation that the use of the materials will not infringe any patent, copyright, trademark or other property or proprietary rights. UWE accepts no liability for any infringement of intellectual property rights in any material deposited but will remove such material from public view pending investigation in the event of an allegation of any such infringement. PLEASE SCROLL DOWN FOR TEXT. Acute effects of a short bout of moderate versus light intensity exercise versus inactivity on tobacco withdrawal symptoms in sedentary smokers AbstractRationale: A previous study found that a 10-minute bout of moderate intensity exercise reduced cigarette withdrawal symptoms in sedentary smokers but the effect may have been due to participants focusing attention on physical activity rather than the activity itself. Objectives: This study examined the effect of five minutes of moderate intensity exercise and five minutes of light intensity exercise on tobacco withdrawal symptoms amongst sedentary smokers. Methods: Eighty-four smokers attended a laboratory session having abstained from smoking for between 11 and 14 hours. Participants were randomly allocated to one of three conditions: (i) light intensity exercise (n = 28; 10%-20% of heart rate reserve(HRR)); (ii) moderate intensity exercise (n = 28; 40%-60% HRR), (iii) a passive control condition (n = 28). Both exercise conditions involved five minutes of stationary cycling and participants rated tobacco withdrawal symptoms and cravings immediately before exercise (baseline), during exercise at 2.5 minutes, immediately following exercise, then after 5 and 10 minutes of rest. Control participants made the same ratings across an equivalent time period. Results: There was no significant change in tobacco withdrawal symptoms over time in the control participants. Following five minutes of moderate intensity exercise, there were significant reductions in ratings of desire for a cigarette, irritability, tension, restlessness, difficulty concentrating and stress, which returned to baseline within 10 minutes of the termination of exercise. Reductions were observed in the light exercise condition for strength of desire for a cigarette, tension and restlessness during exercise and immediately after exercise but ...

We found consistent, though weak, evidence to support the assumption that childhood disadvantage is associated with later cannabis use. Further research is needed to clarify this issue and to inform future policies and public health messages.

We found little robust evidence to support the assumption that childhood disadvantage is associated with later alcohol use/abuse. Given the importance of this issue in terms of policy, the lack of evidence is surprising and emphasizes the need for further research in order to inform future policies and public health messages.

The effect of exercise in reducing desire to smoke and cigarette withdrawal symptoms is not caused by distraction J Z Daniel, M Cropley and C Fife-Schaw AbstractAims 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 reduction in symptoms.Methods Forty 'sedentary' participants who had smoked at least 10 or more cigarettes per day for at least three years were randomly assigned 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 standard 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. FindingsSignificant 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 3 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.