2024-01-05 09:00:00
A quick session on the treadmill or a short walk around the block is enough to relieve smokers who are craving tobacco, according to a new study.
Tobacco use is the leading cause of preventable death worldwide, killing 7 million people each year. While this statistic is alarming, weaning yourself off an addictive substance is no easy feat: fewer than one in ten adult smokers successfully quit.
Reduction of very strong urges to smoke: indoor and outdoor walking tested
That’s why researchers at the University of Innsbruck looked at ways to reduce the unpleasant aspects of quitting smoking, focusing on the potential impact of indoor and outdoor exercise. . “There are several studies on the effect of indoor exercise on abstinent smokers, but ours is the first to include outdoor activity,” said study leader Stefanie Schöttl in a press release.
His team randomly divided 16 smokers into three groups and asked them not to smoke overnight. Next, participants completed a 10-minute brisk walk outdoors, the same but on a treadmill indoors, and sat for 10 minutes. They were also asked to report their possible resumption of smoking, their cravings, their withdrawal symptoms and their mood before, during and following these interventions.
Reduction of very strong urges to smoke: differences between walking outdoors and indoors
Compared to people who remained seated, researchers found that short bouts of indoor and outdoor exercise significantly reduced cravings and withdrawal symptoms while improving the person’s well-being.
“The notable difference between indoor and outdoor exercise is the time it takes before the next cigarette,” explained Stefanie Schöttl, 17 minutes for the indoor group and 26 minutes for the outdoor group. Although this indicates the possibility that outdoor exercise may be more beneficial, the researchers point out “this is a trend that still needs to be verified in future experiments.”
In conclusion, the researchers also suggest that future studies on the subject should examine what elements work to reduce cravings and withdrawal symptoms: is it the physical activity itself, the fact of be in nature, or both?
The research cited in this article is published in Psychopharmacology.
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