Vaping Marketed As Weight Loss Tool
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In the 40s and 50s, smoking cigarettes was all the rage. You could do it indoors, on planes, in elevators. Even doctors were endorsing it.
Yes, doctors. Doctors prescribed cigarettes as a way to combat obesity and nicotine was a well-known appetite suppressant. Having a cigarette in your mouth kept you from indulging in your favorite treats. Even a 50’s avert read:
‘To keep a slender figure, no one can deny Lucky Strike Cigarettes. Reach for a Lucky instead of a sweet!’
Flash forward to today and the now infamously known “cancer-stick” is getting pushed to the curb, replaced with a newer trend: Vaping.
In a familiar “history-repeats-itself” type of fashion, the vaping company, Vapourlites, is marketing vaping as a healthy weight loss solution. The argument is that the effects of vaping are much less harmful than obesity. It’s controversial but for some, vaping is the answer to their expanding waistlines. Why?
People avoid quitting smoking for fear of losing weight.
The average person will pack on 10.2 pounds a year after giving up the habit. Personally, I know at least five people who were hesitant to quit because of this possibility. The theory is that people who want to quit smoking without the side effect of weight gain will switch to vaping instead.
The “Vapor Diet” came into existence December 2013 and promotes vaping as a new way to lose weight. The claim is that the inhalation of food-like flavors such as pizza, cheesecake and banana split sundaes will lower your cravings because your taste bud and smell receptors will send signals to your brain that you indulged when you’ve ingested zero calories. This tricks your body into feeling “fulfilled” so you feel less deprived. Also, since you are keeping your mouth busy vaping, you are less inclined to snack all day. In addition, Vapourlite adds an appetite supplement further prevent users from gaining weight.
A study entitled ‘The Role of Specific Olfactory Stimulation in Appetite Suppression and Weight Loss’ examined subjects who were provided with diet vaping pens. For eight weeks, the subjects were told to use the pens prior to meals and whenever they had the urge to snack or eat. Subjects using the pens with the specialty formulated pens lost an average of 19 pounds.
The study confirmed the use of diet vaping pens as a weight loss tool. Soon the entire vaping industry will begin marketing their product as a diet tool. Vaping companies, like Vapourlite, are defending their marketing strategies stating that vaping is strictly for those over 18 and they should be able to make their own mature decisions.
However, there are grave concerns about how the marketing of these products could be tempting to nonsmokers as well. The theory is that non-smokers will be enticed by the easy weight loss strategies, use the diet vaping pens, and progress to smoking cigarettes over time. It is thought that vaping is the ultimate gateway drug.
The consensus all around says that if you are a smoker, switching to vaping is a good way to kill two birds with one stone. You’ll lose weight and kick your habit at the same time. What could be the harm in that?
However, for non-smokers, it’s not encouraged to promote acquire a craving for nicotine to lose weight.
So Vaping or Obesity? Maybe the question isn’t so black and white after all…
As bad as the obesity epidemic is, acquiring an addiction to nicotine is definitely not the best solution to shed the pounds. Addictions are hard to overcome; once you acquire them, it’s hard to recover. If you or someone you love is struggling with substance abuse or addiction, please call toll-free 1-800-951-6135