This website is intended for healthcare professionals

News

Exercise may support teens to quit smoking

Teenagers who exercised at least 20 minutes a day found it easier to quit smoking than inactive peers, a US study suggests. Endorphins released during exercise may help control cravings.

Teenagers who exercised at least 20 minutes a day found it easier to quit smoking than inactive peers, a US study suggests. Endorphins released during exercise may help control cravings.

Researchers assigned some teenagers to an intensive anti-smoking programme with a fitness intervention, others only took the anti-smoking programme; a third group attended an anti-smoking lecture.

Students who increased the number of days on which they had at least 20 minutes' exercise smoked fewer cigarettes - regardless of which intervention they received.