The effects of nicotine and cigarette smoking on food consumption and taste preferences

Habitual cigarette smokers generally have lower body weights than comparably aged nonsmokers. In addition, habitual smokers who abstain from smoking often increase in body weight. Both psychological and physiological explanations have been suggested to account for this phenomenon. However, in the literature, there is no convincing research reason to prefer any of the alternatives. The effects of nicotine and cigarette smoking on food consumption and taste preferences are examined in rats and humans. For both species nicotine administration/cigarette smoking is accompanied by a decreased consumption of sweet-tasting high caloric foods. Consumption of other foods does not change. These findings may help to explain the changes in body weight which accompany cigarette smoking.