3 min read
Metabolic Recovery: How Your Metabolism Changes After Quitting—and What to Do About It
Nicotine increases metabolic rate by 5-10%. When nicotine is removed, metabolism slows and weight gain follows. Managing the metabolic transition—through diet, exercise, and pharmacological support—is essential to successful cessation.
Nicotine increases resting energy expenditure by 5-10%—roughly 100-200 calories per day. When nicotine is removed, metabolism drops to baseline—and weight gain follows. **The metabolic transition of cessation is one of the primary drivers of post-quit weight gain. Managing it requires: increased physical activity, dietary adjustments, and—for some quitters—pharmacological support that slows the metabolic decline. The cessation system rarely addresses metabolism directly.**
