Quitting Smoking Leads to Junk Food

Marco Verch Professional Photographer / CC

Quitting smoking is no easy feat, especially when nicotine withdrawal kicks in. A new study finds one of the immediate side-effects of giving up cigarettes is a craving for junk food. Researchers (University of Minnesota Medical School) say they’ve discovered a brain link between a person’s addiction to nicotine and poor eating habits. The study points to the opioid system — the brain functions which regulate both addiction and appetite — being responsible for smokers seeking out high-calorie foods when they’re suffering from nicotine withdrawal. It’s a vicious cycle for people trying to quit, as junk food cravings can lead to weight gain and, in turn, can push people to go back to smoking cigarettes again.