Nicotine Patches help you lose weight??

Margarita211

So I saw an article on CNN or something last week with a couple doctors saying that nicotine patches could help dieters when they hit a plateau. Has anyone else heard of this? Supposedly nicotine cuts appetite and (if I'm remembering right) speeds up metabolism. Not sure if the two docs were just quacks looking for some quick publicity, or if it actually had some merit. I would think that even though it's smoke free, just bombarding your body with nicotine randomly can't be that healthy... Or can it?

Tujitsu56

I'm thinking along the same lines as you are. Also, in that when I think of plateau I mostly think of people who has seen quite a but of progress but it slowed, I think that eating less may not be the best solution. Usually these people are already dieting and eating closer to the minimum requirements anyway. Maybe a bump up in calories can jolt thier metabolism or increase workout routine.

Larius

NO! Terrible idea!

Nicotine is harder to stop than heroin or cocaine. You have no idea unless you've been there.

sculptandtone

this is a terrible, terrible, terrible idea. Nicotine is VERY addictive. Yes, it does speed your metabolism and it does burn calories. But, trust me, as someone who smoked for 30 years, kicking nicotine is WAY harder than busting a plateau. If any doctor recommended this, they should have their license revoked.

Contrarian

I don't know if this would work, but I think you are right when you question how healthy it is. There are lots of techniques people can use to break through a plateau and although it may take time before you see what works for you, something will.

Nicotine is a toxin and it raises blood pressure. Diet and exercise is always the right answer.

7/10

Sidesteal

Before I get into it, I don't think OP was suggesting actually doing this, so don't take this comment personally as I think you were just questioning the science behind it.


This has to be one of the dumbest ideas for weight loss I have ever heard.

Gigi_licious

I would imagine that if you aren't used to nicotine then you throw on a patch the nicotine would make you sick to your stomach and you wouldn't want to eat....causing weight loss.

SueInAz

It definitely can't be healthy. They may as well suggest that you take up smoking to lose weight although at least with a nicotine patch you aren't harming the health of everyone around you, too.

Hellbent_Heidi

I would imagine that if you aren't used to nicotine then you throw on a patch the nicotine would make you sick to your stomach and you wouldn't want to eat....causing weight loss.

This makes the most sense actually. I used them to quit smoking a few years ago and the constant stream of nicotine can make even smokers feel a little jittery. I usually had to take it off before the end of the day because I could almost feel it coursing through my body.

kennethmgreen

NO! Terrible idea!

Nicotine is harder to stop than heroin or cocaine. You have no idea unless you've been there.

Believe this because it's true, not because he's running on water in his profile pic.

Dinah22

I would imagine that if you aren't used to nicotine then you throw on a patch the nicotine would make you sick to your stomach and you wouldn't want to eat....causing weight loss.

This makes the most sense actually. I used them to quit smoking a few years ago and the constant stream of nicotine can make even smokers feel a little jittery. I usually had to take it off before the end of the day because I could almost feel it coursing through my body.

Were you successful though - did you kick the habit? I know it's a bit off topic, but thinking along those lines myself. (stopping smoking I mean)

MarlaChandlerBarton

I agree with the majority.... bad idea! Take it from an ex-addict

Hellbent_Heidi

I would imagine that if you aren't used to nicotine then you throw on a patch the nicotine would make you sick to your stomach and you wouldn't want to eat....causing weight loss.

This makes the most sense actually. I used them to quit smoking a few years ago and the constant stream of nicotine can make even smokers feel a little jittery. I usually had to take it off before the end of the day because I could almost feel it coursing through my body.

Were you successful though - did you kick the habit? I know it's a bit off topic, but thinking along those lines myself. (stopping smoking I mean)

Well, yes, and no. I did quit for 9 months, and did just fine without smoking through my wedding planning, wedding and honeymoon (in Vegas no less, where people are smoking everywhere!). My husband and I quit together and we were really happy with our results using the patch.
Unfortunately, shortly after all of that, we had a close friend and neighbor committ suicide (my husband found him hanging in his barn) and a couple of weeks later we had to put our beloved dog down, and we both fell off the wagon and started again during that horrible time. Fast forward another year, we were set to quit last New Years, and my brother-in-law killed himself on New Years Eve...so now we do plan to quit again when we reach our goal weights (8 lbs to go for me..woohoo) and would absolutely use the patch again. I've done cold-turkey in the past and that's just really hard, and Chantix gave me psychotic dreams.

H2Ologist

Well, First as a former smoker. PLEASE DO NOT USE NICOTINE PATCHES TO LOSE WEIGHT. That is seriously as stupid as thinking smoking will help you lose weight. The only reason people GAIN weight when they quit smoking is they are looking for the oral fixation.

Second, the nicotine in patches is just as addictive as in cigarettes or any other tobacco products. You CAN become addicted to patches or gum or the electronic cigarettes. The problem with these is that they are more socially acceptable and you don't get shamed every time you pop a piece of gum verses get scolded for lighting a smoke.

Third, if you are trying to quit smoking. There is a great site with TONS of helpful information www.whyquit.com. I quit a year and a half ago cold turkey. It sucked for about three days (that is how long the nicotine is in your bloodstream), but I just took it one minute at a time. Just like losing weight, you were a smoker for many years, it isn't gonna be easy to become an ex and it will take more than one day.

Sorry, I just had to get that out.

wannababyH

Honestly, this sounds like something the tobacco industry would try to push in an attempt to get people hooked in nicotine and buying cigarettes.

LabRat529

So I saw an article on CNN or something last week with a couple doctors saying that nicotine patches could help dieters when they hit a plateau. Has anyone else heard of this? Supposedly nicotine cuts appetite and (if I'm remembering right) speeds up metabolism. Not sure if the two docs were just quacks looking for some quick publicity, or if it actually had some merit. I would think that even though it's smoke free, just bombarding your body with nicotine randomly can't be that healthy... Or can it?

I've study nicotine and the nicotinic receptor in the brain (specifically the alpha 7 nicotinic receptor). I don't currently study it (my current project is on androgen (testosterone and DHT) receptors and Alzheimer's disease), but I believe the science. It makes sense based on what I know about nicotine. Like most drugs, nicotine has beneficial effects as well as harmful ones. An objective researcher can see past the fear and the hype and recognize this.

But I still wouldn't recommend nicotine for weight loss. It's addictive, as so many have pointed out. It's also probably carcinogenic (though it might be nicotine and/or other stuff in tobacco that is carcinogenic... I think there's some debate about it). Most importantly, though, is that you don't need gimmicks for weight loss.

susieomega

I think if someone is desperate to lose weight and they've tried everything, sometimes wisdom and logic goes out the window. A little patch on someone's backside that helps them drop weight would totally be over looked as an addiction.

JPod279

NO! Terrible idea!

Nicotine is harder to stop than heroin or cocaine. You have no idea unless you've been there.

Cool, I'll try the heroin and/or coke first since they seem to make you lose weight too. :bigsmile:

thelud83

It's not dumb at all.... I have been vaping ( electronic cigarettes just nicotine and water vapor) for one month, and so far I've lost 23 pounds.... Yeah Cocaine would do the same for you, but nicotine itself is not harmful... Its an stimulant....of course I wouldnt reccomend start smoking, try vaping ... Its awesome.

thelud83

And btw, I have been normally eating and not dieting at all....

Zomoniac

I've been vaping for over 18 months and would like to declare your statement to be utter bollocks.

Dave198lbs

It's not dumb at all.... I have been vaping ( electronic cigarettes just nicotine and water vapor) for one month, and so far I've lost 23 pounds.... Yeah Cocaine would do the same for you, but nicotine itself is not harmful... Its an stimulant....of course I wouldnt reccomend start smoking, try vaping ... Its awesome.

delusional much?

justal313

So I saw an article on CNN or something last week with a couple doctors saying that nicotine patches could help dieters when they hit a plateau. Has anyone else heard of this? Supposedly nicotine cuts appetite and (if I'm remembering right) speeds up metabolism. Not sure if the two docs were just quacks looking for some quick publicity, or if it actually had some merit. I would think that even though it's smoke free, just bombarding your body with nicotine randomly can't be that healthy... Or can it?

Were the couple of doctors Dr. Oz and Dr. Phil? This is the worst idea ever. I know a LOT of people who are hopeless addicted to Nicotine, so do you, even if you think you don't.

Might as well try meth or coke or heroin, or goat urine, I hear injecting it will help you lose.

pullipgirl

Sounds like they are reverting back to the 1920s, nicotine was first used as a weight loss aid back then. Problem is once you stop using them you gain the weight back

WendyTerry420

NO! Terrible idea!

Nicotine is harder to stop than heroin or cocaine. You have no idea unless you've been there.

^^ This

Not to mention that the patches could make you nauseous and itchy. Terrible idea! You are better off with amphetamines than nicotine, and that's for real.

WendyTerry420

It's not dumb at all.... I have been vaping ( electronic cigarettes just nicotine and water vapor) for one month, and so far I've lost 23 pounds.... Yeah Cocaine would do the same for you, but nicotine itself is not harmful... Its an stimulant....of course I wouldnt reccomend start smoking, try vaping ... Its awesome.

delusional much?

No doubt! Nicotine is much more addictive than cocaine. Lots of people can use cocaine or amphetamines casually without getting addicted, but I have never known anyone to try nicotine that didn't get physically dependent on it.

WendyTerry420

Honestly, this sounds like something the tobacco industry would try to push in an attempt to get people hooked in nicotine and buying cigarettes.

Doubtful

Fozzi43

I wish I could quit the nicotine ..but will power not good at the moment :frown:

vtmoon

Sometimes when I hit plateaus I just grab a knife and fillet some of the fatty parts on my body, it always helps me speed the weight lose.

Hellbent_Heidi

Honestly, this sounds like something the tobacco industry would try to push in an attempt to get people hooked in nicotine and buying cigarettes.

Doubtful

Right, because they'd NEVER do anything like that, right? :laugh: :noway:

vtmoon

Honestly, this sounds like something the tobacco industry would try to push in an attempt to get people hooked in nicotine and buying cigarettes.

Doubtful

You would be surprised.