Michael Kannes
14/11/2024 • 5 min readAs more people explore vaping as an alternative to smoking, questions about its impact on health, particularly weight, are becoming more common. One key question for most is, “Does vaping have calories?” Simply put, whether vaping contributes to caloric intake and if it can influence weight gain or loss. This article will discuss the relationship between these two things, examining how it might affect your weight and overall health.
Vape liquids, also known as e-liquids, typically contain a combination of propylene glycol, vegetable glycerin, nicotine, and flavourings. Of these ingredients, vegetable glycerin is the only one with a measurable caloric content, approximately four calories per gram. However, the amount of e-liquid inhaled during vaping is so small that it results in an almost negligible caloric intake. Most of the e-liquid is vaporised during vaping, with minimal absorption into the body. Therefore, while a millilitre of e-liquid may contain about 4-5 calories, the actual amount entering your system is insignificant and does not contribute to your daily caloric intake in any meaningful way.
Can vaping make you gain weight? While vaping itself is unlikely to directly cause weight gain, nicotine plays a significant role in how vaping might affect your weight. Nicotine is an appetite suppressant, which can lead to reduced food intake and potentially result in weight loss for some users. Additionally, nicotine temporarily boosts metabolism, increasing the number of calories burned.
However, when individuals quit smoking or vaping, they may experience an increase in appetite as the appetite-suppressing effects of nicotine wear off. This can lead to weight gain, especially if the person begins to eat more to cope with cravings or stress. Some users may also replace vaping with eating, which could contribute to weight gain. Therefore, while vaping doesn’t inherently cause weight gain, the behavioural changes that occur after quitting can play a significant role.
With the scientific arguments presented above, there is no direct evidence to suggest that vaping causes fat gain, as the caloric intake from vaping is minimal. However, the effects of vaping on weight can vary depending on individual factors such as metabolism, diet, and overall lifestyle. Nicotine’s appetite-suppressing qualities may contribute to weight loss in some users, leading to a leaner physique. On the other hand, any weight gain related to vaping is more likely due to changes in lifestyle or eating habits rather than vaping itself. In essence, vaping is unlikely to make you fat or skinny on its own; the outcome largely depends on how it influences your overall behaviour and practices.
Vaping does not break a fast since it does not significantly contribute to caloric intake. However, nicotine can speed up our metabolism, which might make fasting more challenging for some individuals. Additionally, while vaping may not affect fasting directly, nicotine could have other effects on the body during fasting, such as altering insulin sensitivity or increasing cravings.
In summary, vaping does not contribute meaningful calories to your diet, making its impact on caloric intake negligible. While vaping is unlikely to cause weight gain or fat accumulation directly, individual experiences may vary based on behaviour, metabolism, and lifestyle factors. If you’re concerned about how vaping may affect your weight or overall health, consider your broader lifestyle choices and consult a healthcare professional for personalised advice.
