Get Moving to Kick the Habit

Reported April 08, 2008

(Ivanhoe Newswire) -- If you’re trying to quit smoking, you might want to get moving. A new study finds physically active smokers are more likely to succeed at kicking the habit.

The study included 23,000 Canadian smokers. Researchers say physically active men were 36 percent more likely to have tried to quit smoking in the past year and active women were 37 percent more likely to do so than less active women. Overall, about 25 percent of daily smokers are physically active. Researchers say participating in one healthy activity, such as exercise, can lead to more positive changes.

“I’ve had the opportunity to speak with smokers who told me they are ‘living proof’ that physical activity does assist in smoking cessation,” says lead author Wayne deRuiter. “These individuals were, at one time, hardcore smokers who began walking several times throughout the day. As physical activity levels increased, they found they were smoking less until eventually, they quit smoking altogether.” He adds that he feels these smokers may be the minority, and that it’s not clear if you can induce smokers who are not physically active to change that habit.

Jennifer McClure, Ph.D., an associate investigator at the Center for Health Studies for the Group Health Cooperative says the study findings are encouraging, but also could be used negatively. Dr. McClure was not involved with the study. She says some smokers may look at being physically active as a harm-reduction, meaning it could delay or deter their efforts to quit smoking because they are doing other “healthy” habits. She agrees that researchers need to determine if they can motivate non-active smokers to not only quit smoking but also to be physically active.

SOURCE: To be published in the American Journal of Public Health in May 2008