Data on the impact of smoking on calorie intake is mixed. This small study, presented at the 2016 Congress of the European Respiratory Society decrypts its effect on the levels of the hormone ghrelin or hunger hormone and indeed results in a lower risk of overweight in smokers. These conclusions should not overlook the priority of reducing or stopping smoking over weight gain and the need to adapt the monitoring of smoking patients in withdrawal, with the aim of reducing their weight-related concerns .
Researchers from the University of Athens recall that most patients who successfully quit smoking gain weight, and current smokers are less likely to be overweight than non-smokers. So many teenagers and especially girls will start smoking also in the hope of better management of body weight. This belief then persists into adulthood.
Weight gain after stopping smoking makes many smokers and especially women less motivated to quit smoking, and it is also and subsequently a frequent reason for resuming smoking. So far, both the data and the documented mechanisms behind this tobacco-weight association have remained unclear. Some studies have mentioned the effect of tobacco on food intake, changes in metabolism, or the levels of certain hormones.
Smoking and its acute effect on food intake : This small study therefore examined the acute effect of smoking and its abstinence on food consumption, subjective feelings of hunger or fullness, and levels of appetite-related hormones, in 14 healthy men who had participated, after a night of abstinence in 2 experiments, smoke 2 cigarettes of the brand of their choice, or hold a cigarette without lighting it, all for 45 minutes, then be able to consume "ad libitum" and for free a whole variety of 'food.
The researchers assessed food intake, feeling of appetite (hunger, fullness, urge to eat) and urge to smoke at different points in time. Blood samples were analyzed for different hormones. Researchers show 
that smoking,
Has an acute effect on food intake, reducing the following food intake by 152 calories,
· This effect seems mediated by plasma ghrelin levels
· Does not change feelings of appetite or satiety.
In conclusion, this tiny study concludes that smoking has an acute effect on calorie intake mediated by changes in ghrelin levels. Data to be replicated on a larger sample, and perhaps other mediators to discover and target, to limit weight gain sometimes associated with smoking cessation.
Source : Santelog.com
