A new study by the University of Adelaide has found that physical activity can significantly help people who are trying to quit smoking. Regular exercise reduces nicotine cravings, decreases the number of cigarettes smoked, and increases the likelihood of successfully quitting.

The findings were published in ScienceDirect.

Researchers analyzed data from 59 randomized controlled trials involving more than 9,000 participants. The review examined both single bouts of physical activity and long-term exercise programs, assessing their effects on nicotine dependence, mood, and withdrawal symptoms.

The results showed that participants who engaged in physical activity programs were 15% more likely to achieve sustained smoking cessation than those in the control groups. In addition, they were 21% more likely to remain smoke-free for at least seven consecutive days.

The study also found that exercise reduced daily cigarette consumption by approximately two cigarettes per day. One of the most notable findings was the short-term effect: even a single exercise session was able to reduce cigarette cravings for up to 30 minutes immediately after physical activity.

According to the study's lead author, Dr. Ben Singh, these findings provide people with a simple and accessible tool that can be incorporated into everyday life to support smoking cessation.

The researchers emphasize that quitting smoking remains one of the greatest public health challenges. Although smoking rates have declined substantially over recent decades, tobacco use remains the leading preventable cause of premature death, claiming approximately 7 million lives worldwide each year. An additional 1.6 million people die from the effects of secondhand smoke.

At the same time, the use of electronic cigarettes continues to rise, with more than 100 million people worldwide now using e-cigarettes. High-income countries are also experiencing increasing use of vaping devices and heated tobacco products, particularly among young people.

The researchers stress that physical activity should not be viewed as a replacement for established smoking cessation methods, such as medication or behavioral counseling. Instead, it can serve as an important complementary strategy, especially during periods of intense nicotine cravings.

According to Professor Carol Maher of the University of Adelaide, even short periods of physical activity can help people get through the most difficult moments of nicotine dependence, when the urge to smoke is particularly strong.

The research team plans to investigate how physical activity can be integrated into real-world smoking cessation programs, including digital health services and clinical interventions.

They also intend to evaluate whether the same approach could help people trying to quit e-cigarettes, although evidence in this area remains limited.

Overall, the study suggests that even simple and accessible activities, such as a short walk or a workout, can become an important component of an effective smoking cessation strategy.