Can nicotine patches promote weight loss?
Ask the doctor
Q. I read on social media that nicotine patches can safely jump-start weight loss. Is that true?
A. Social media strikes again! But very little health advice touted on social media is accurate, and this is yet another example. The short answer is no: there is no scientific evidence to suggest that nicotine patches help with weight loss.
Here’s what we do know: nicotine — a drug that prompts our brains to release feel-good chemicals such as dopamine and serotonin — does act as an appetite suppressant. It makes sense, then, to think that nicotine patches, which the FDA approved to help people quit smoking, can also help them lose weight. Not only is there no research to back that up, but using nicotine comes with health risks. These include high blood pressure, along with narrowed and hardened arteries. Some cancers also appear to become more aggressive with nicotine exposure.
A better approach to weight loss is to eat plenty of high-fiber and protein-rich foods, which keep you fuller longer, as well as drink plenty of water. Talk to your doctor if you’d like to explore medically supervised weight-loss options.
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About the Author
Toni Golen, MD, Editor in Chief, Harvard Women's Health Watch; Editorial Advisory Board Member, Harvard Health Publishing; Contributor
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