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Can physical activity help with
stopping smoking?
Michael Ussher
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Abstract
There is some evidence to suggest that raising physical
activity levels can increase rates of abstinence from
smoking. This session will first provide an overview of
the evidence for exercise as an aid to smoking. Secondly,
we will consider evidence for various other benefits of
exercise while trying to quit; including a reduction in
tobacco withdrawal/cravings and weight-gain. Recommendations
for different types of exercise programmes during smoking
cessation will be considered and the challenges of integrating
exercise programmes into conventional treatment programmes
will be discussed. Possible barriers to smokers becoming
more active will be outlined (e.g. smokers are often from
a very sedentary culture) and strategies for encouraging
exercise will be described. Exercise for special populations
of smokers will be considered; for example, for those
who are pregnant, overweight or who have cardiovascular
disease. Participants will be asked to reflect on their
own barriers to exercise and how these barriers could
be overcome. The overall aim of this session is for participants
to come away with an understanding of the evidence for
the role of exercise in smoking cessation and to appreciate
a range of practical strategies for implementing exercise
interventions in an NHS stop smoking service.
Biography
Dr Michael Ussher is a Lecturer in Health Psychology at
St George's Hospital Medical School. His research focuses
on both smoking cessation and physical activity. He is
the author of the Cochrane Review on 'Exercise Interventions
in Smoking Cessation' and has published numerous book
chapters and articles in leading scientific journals relating
to the role of exercise in smoking cessation. He is currently
considering the role of exercise for pregnant smokers
and is continuing with a series of experimental studies
examining the effects of short bouts of exercise on tobacco
withdrawal symptoms and cravings.
Dr Michael Ussher
Department of Community Health Sciences (Psychology),
Hunter Wing, St. George's, University of London
mussher@sghms.ac.uk
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