Exercise interventions for smoking cessation

Abstract

Background Taking regular exercise may help people give up smoking by moderating nicotine withdrawal and cravings, and by helping to manage weight gain. Objectives To determine whether exercise-based interventions alone, or combined with a smoking cessation programme, are more effective than a smoking cessation intervention alone. Search methods We searched the Cochrane Tobacco Addiction Group Specialized Register in April 2014, and searched MEDLINE, EMBASE, PsycINFO, and CINAHL Plus in May 2014. Selection criteria We included randomized trials which compared an exercise programme alone, or an exercise programme as an adjunct to a cessation programme, with a cessation programme (which we considered the control in this review). Studies were required to recruit smokers or recent quitters and have a follow-up of six months or more. Studies that did not meet the full inclusion criteria because they only assessed the acute effects of exercise on smoking behaviour, or because the outcome was smoking reduction, are summarised but not formally included. Data collection and analysis We extracted data on study characteristics and smoking outcomes. Because of differences between studies in the characteristics of the interventions used we summarized the results narratively, making no attempt at meta-analysis. We assessed risk of selection and attrition bias using standard methodological procedures expected by The Cochrane Collaboration. Main results We identified 20 trials with a total of 5,870 participants. The largest study was an internet trial with 2,318 participants, and eight trials had fewer than 30 people in each treatment arm. Studies varied in the timing and intensity of the smoking cessation and exercise programmes offered. Only one included study was judged to be at low risk of bias across all domains assessed. Four studies showed significantly higher abstinence rates in a physically active group versus a control group at end of treatment. One of these studies also showed a significant benefit for exercise versus control on abstinence at the three-month follow-up and a benefit for exercise of 1 Exercise interventions for smoking cessation (Review)

What Increases Smokers’ Stress? Degree of Nicotine Dependence and Motivation to Quit Smoking in People After Myocardial Infarction

“…It is also worth noting that there is a relationship between nicotine tolerance and the motivation to stop smoking—the higher the tolerance, the lower the motivation. This observation is in line with the findings of other researchers who emphasize the importance of physiological addiction in the process of quitting smoking [ 44 ]. In turn, the statement that the more stressful the situations that the patients experience, the lower their motivation to quit smoking leads to the conclusion that a holistic approach to the problem is required, taking into account not only purely addiction issues, but also the psychosocial determinants of the health behaviors of this group of patients [ 45 , 46 ].…”

What Increases Smokers’ Stress? Degree of Nicotine Dependence and Motivation to Quit Smoking in People After Myocardial Infarction

“…It is also worth noting that there is a relationship between nicotine tolerance and the motivation to stop smoking—the higher the tolerance, the lower the motivation. This observation is in line with the findings of other researchers who emphasize the importance of physiological addiction in the process of quitting smoking [ 44 ]. In turn, the statement that the more stressful the situations that the patients experience, the lower their motivation to quit smoking leads to the conclusion that a holistic approach to the problem is required, taking into account not only purely addiction issues, but also the psychosocial determinants of the health behaviors of this group of patients [ 45 , 46 ].…”

Effect of exercise intervention on smoking cessation: a meta-analysis

“…Only three of the 17 studies reported a positive effect of exercise on smoking cessation ( Marcus et al, 1991 ; Marcus et al, 1999 ; Bock et al, 2012 ). The results of meta-analysis showed that no significant difference in quit rates between the exercise and control groups in long-term exercise interventions, which is generally consistent with previous results ( Ussher et al, 2019 ).…”

Mobile instant messaging supported brief physical exercise intervention for smoking cessation: a community-based, cluster randomised controlled trial

“…Secondary outcomes, including self-reported 7-day PPA, smoking reduction, quit attempts and use of cessation services, also showed no significant differences between groups. These findings align with the results of the meta-analysis12 and the Cochrane review,1 which found limited evidence for effectiveness of aerobic exercise and overall exercise interventions to improve long-term abstinence, and extended the implications to MIM-supported brief physical exercise.…”

What Increases Smokers’ Stress? Degree of Nicotine Dependence and Motivation to Quit Smoking in People After Myocardial Infarction

“…It is also worth noting that there is a relationship between nicotine tolerance and the motivation to stop smoking—the higher the tolerance, the lower the motivation. This observation is in line with the findings of other researchers who emphasize the importance of physiological addiction in the process of quitting smoking [ 44 ]. In turn, the statement that the more stressful the situations that the patients experience, the lower their motivation to quit smoking leads to the conclusion that a holistic approach to the problem is required, taking into account not only purely addiction issues, but also the psychosocial determinants of the health behaviors of this group of patients [ 45 , 46 ].…”

Effect of exercise intervention on smoking cessation: a meta-analysis

“…Only three of the 17 studies reported a positive effect of exercise on smoking cessation ( Marcus et al, 1991 ; Marcus et al, 1999 ; Bock et al, 2012 ). The results of meta-analysis showed that no significant difference in quit rates between the exercise and control groups in long-term exercise interventions, which is generally consistent with previous results ( Ussher et al, 2019 ).…”

Mobile instant messaging supported brief physical exercise intervention for smoking cessation: a community-based, cluster randomised controlled trial

“…Secondary outcomes, including self-reported 7-day PPA, smoking reduction, quit attempts and use of cessation services, also showed no significant differences between groups. These findings align with the results of the meta-analysis12 and the Cochrane review,1 which found limited evidence for effectiveness of aerobic exercise and overall exercise interventions to improve long-term abstinence, and extended the implications to MIM-supported brief physical exercise.…”

What Increases Smokers’ Stress? Degree of Nicotine Dependence and Motivation to Quit Smoking in People After Myocardial Infarction

“…It is also worth noting that there is a relationship between nicotine tolerance and the motivation to stop smoking—the higher the tolerance, the lower the motivation. This observation is in line with the findings of other researchers who emphasize the importance of physiological addiction in the process of quitting smoking [ 44 ]. In turn, the statement that the more stressful the situations that the patients experience, the lower their motivation to quit smoking leads to the conclusion that a holistic approach to the problem is required, taking into account not only purely addiction issues, but also the psychosocial determinants of the health behaviors of this group of patients [ 45 , 46 ].…”

Effect of exercise intervention on smoking cessation: a meta-analysis

“…Only three of the 17 studies reported a positive effect of exercise on smoking cessation ( Marcus et al, 1991 ; Marcus et al, 1999 ; Bock et al, 2012 ). The results of meta-analysis showed that no significant difference in quit rates between the exercise and control groups in long-term exercise interventions, which is generally consistent with previous results ( Ussher et al, 2019 ).…”

Mobile instant messaging supported brief physical exercise intervention for smoking cessation: a community-based, cluster randomised controlled trial

“…Secondary outcomes, including self-reported 7-day PPA, smoking reduction, quit attempts and use of cessation services, also showed no significant differences between groups. These findings align with the results of the meta-analysis12 and the Cochrane review,1 which found limited evidence for effectiveness of aerobic exercise and overall exercise interventions to improve long-term abstinence, and extended the implications to MIM-supported brief physical exercise.…”