Smoking and its impact on eating behavior: A review

Smoking and its association with eating and dietary behaviors is complex, with smokers exhibiting varied dietary patterns. It is a widespread global deleterious behavior with significant effects on various physiological and psychological processes, including appetite regulation and dietary habits. Although the adverse health consequences of smoking are well recognized, its impact on eating behavior remains complex and less elucidated. Smokers often exhibit a preference for highly palatable, energy dense and ultra-processed foods due to a combination of physiological, neurochemical and psychological factors. Nicotine, the primary psychoactive component of tobacco, is known to cause appetite-suppressing effects leading many smokers to report reduced food intake on one hand and causing increased appetite leading to obesity on the other. This dual and contrasting biological mechanism contributes to differences in dietary preferences, food intake patterns and weight fluctuations observed among smokers. It is therefore essential to explore this intricate connection between smoking, appetite regulation and dietary habits and the factors associated with it.