Experts urging smokers to replace cigs with exercise (From The Bolton News)

Experts urging smokers to replace cigs with exercise

7:19pm Thursday 3rd April 2008 in

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EXPERTS are urging smokers to replace cigarettes with exercise in a bid to help them stub out the habit.

Research has revealed physical exertion can help reduce nicotine cravings - a theory backed by local experts.

Adrian Butterworth, manager of Bolton's Stop Smoking Service, said: "Exercise has long been known to reduce cravings in a person quitting smoking because moderate exercise causes the release of the same chemicals in the brain that nicotine does.

"It can help alleviate withdrawal symptoms.

"A small increase in the amount of extra exercise will also help in keeping any weight gain after quitting to a minimum.

"We at Bolton Stop Smoking Service have been advocating this for a number of years and have joined up with a number of local gyms to offer taster sessions free of charge to all quitters attending the service."

The study was carried out by researchers at the University of Toronto in Canada and was revealed at the British Psychology Society's annual meeting in Dublin.

Experts studied a group of 20 smokers who were assessed after taking part in exercise and then asked to fill in questionnaires which rated their level of cravings.

All smoked 10 or more cigarettes a day and the study found that 10 to 15 minutes of physical activity reduced cravings for at least 20 minutes.

Filippe Scerbo, one of the study leaders, said: "This could be enough to get you over the hump. All smokers could help calm cravings for a cigarette by simply taking regular brisk walks whenever they feel the urge to smoke."

In Bolton the number of smokers has fallen.

Almost 30 per cent of people in the borough smoked in 2001 but a health study carried out last year revealed that number had fallen to 23 per cent.