New research from Adelaide University announced on July 3 shows that exercise can help people quit smoking by reducing cigarette consumption, easing cravings, and improving their chances of quitting. The study found that participants in exercise programs were 15% more likely to achieve continuous abstinence and 21% more likely to report not smoking over a seven-day period compared with control groups.
Researchers also observed that exercise could reduce cigarette consumption by two cigarettes per day and that a single bout of exercise immediately reduced cravings for up to 30 minutes after activity. The systematic review and meta-analysis examined 59 randomized controlled trials involving more than 9,000 participants, exploring the effects of both single bouts of exercise and long-term programs on smoking cessation, cravings, withdrawal symptoms, and mood.
Globally, tobacco use remains the leading preventable cause of premature morbidity and mortality, accounting for about seven million deaths annually. This includes an estimated 1.6 million non-smokers exposed to second-hand smoke. E-cigarette use has reached over 100 million people worldwide.
Lead researcher Dr. Ben Singh said the findings provide smokers with a practical tool to support their quitting journey. “Quitting smoking is one of the best things a person can do for their health, but it’s also one of the hardest,” Singh said. “Many smokers want to quit, but the current approaches don’t work for everyone. That’s why we need more strategies that people can incorporate into their daily lives at little or no cost.”
Senior researcher Professor Carol Maher said exercise could be used strategically to manage tobacco cravings: “Cravings can be difficult to manage, but they often pass. Our review found that even a single bout of exercise can reduce cravings for up to 30 minutes, which may help people get through some of the hardest moments of a quit attempt.” Maher added that while evidence-based supports such as counseling and medication should not be replaced by exercise alone, it may serve as an additional low-cost strategy.
The researchers say further studies are needed to test how exercise can be integrated into real-world quit programs—including digital platforms—and whether it might also benefit those attempting to stop vaping.
