Nicotine and Weight Management: What the Science Really Says

• Nicotine can suppress appetite and increase metabolism—but effects vary.
• Studies show fat loss depends more on nicotine frequency than dose.
• Nicotine is not a safe or reliable method for weight management.

Studies consistently show that nicotine can increase metabolic rate and reduce appetite. 

In fact, academics have noted that “nicotine has been the most effective long-term weight control drug use over the past century”.¹ 

It’s a sympathomimetic agent, meaning it stimulates the nervous system—similar to how caffeine works. 

This stimulation can raise heart rate and increase energy expenditure, leading to more calories burned at rest¹.

This can lead to a net decrease in body fat, though individual results vary due to genetics and dosing.

In a recent study published in Nicotine & Tobacco Research¹, mice were given varying doses of nicotine (0.5mg/kg to 2mg/kg) across different schedules. 

Those given 2mg/kg twice daily showed the most significant reduction in both white and brown fat.

Interestingly, the frequency of nicotine exposure was more impactful than the dose itself. 

Researchers also noted a “browning” of white fat in mice – a process linked in animal models to increased calorie burn. 

While white fat stores energy and is linked to obesity, brown fat helps the body burn sugar and fat more efficiently.

While most studies have been done on smokers or animals, some researchers have also looked into nicotine pouches, sometimes dubbed “white snus”.

Both caffeine and nicotine are mild stimulants that can sharpen focus and increase alertness. They’ve even appeared on doping watchlists due to their potential performance-enhancing effects.

Nicotine is naturally found in foods like tomatoes and aubergines, but at much lower levels than in pouches or cigarettes.

The idea of nicotine as a weight management aid has gone viral online, with some calling pouches like ZYN the “gas station Ozempic”. 

While we’re not endorsing this term, it's part of a wider public narrative around appetite suppression.

That said, not all health experts agree. 

Some caution that nicotine’s effects on appetite and metabolism may be inconsistent, and withdrawal from nicotine can lead to changes in behaviour—such as increased snacking—that contribute to weight gain.

Nicotine affects the body in complex ways. 

It can increase metabolism and reduce appetite in some individuals, but results vary widely depending on dose, genetics, and other factors.

It is not a recommended or reliable method for managing weight—and should not be used for that purpose.

As Prof. Nyström puts it, “Nicotine helps to keep body weight down... the net effect is to increase the burning of fat tissue in the body.” 

However, any approach to weight management should primarily focus on a balanced diet, regular physical activity, and overall health—not the use of stimulants or substances like nicotine.