Scientists from the University of Plymouth found that physical activity and motivational support programs do not provide long-term benefits to smokers. Research published in the journal Dependence.
The study included 915 smokers. Half attended a motivational support program: they called a supervisor or came to a meeting. They were also encouraged to increase their physical activity level. The second half of the participants were told standard ways of coping with smoking.
Participation in the program had some short-term benefits: 19% of those who received additional support said they had at least halved the number of cigarettes they smoked after three months. Only 10% of the group receiving standard advice reported it.
But in the long run, the results were pretty much the same: Only 2% of those who took the supplement quit after nine months. In the standard recommendations group, less than 1% of the participants abstained from smoking.
Physical activity didn’t help either: participants who exercised 81 minutes more than others didn’t quit smoking more often.