Exercise could provide smokers with a simple and accessible extra tool to help them quit, according to a new systematic review led by researchers from the Alliance for Research in Exercise, Nutrition and Activity at the University of Adelaide. The review found that structured exercise programs modestly improved smoking cessation success rates, while even a single exercise session could rapidly reduce nicotine cravings. The findings suggest physical activity may offer both immediate and longer-term benefits for people trying to stop smoking.
Smoking remains one of the leading preventable causes of death worldwide, yet many people struggle to quit successfully. Although counselling, nicotine replacement therapies, and medications can improve quit rates, long-term abstinence remains difficult, and relapse is common. Researchers argue that exercise may help address an important gap because it is low-cost, widely available, and associated with a range of physical and mental health benefits. The study was published online on April 7, 2026, in the Journal of Sport and Health Science.
The review is among the most comprehensive analyses of exercise and smoking cessation conducted to date. Researchers searched 11 scientific databases through March 2025 and included 59 randomized controlled trials involving 9,083 participants. Of these, 43 studies examined longer-term exercise training programs, while 16 focused on the immediate effects of a single exercise session. The review also included a wider variety of exercise approaches than previous analyses, including aerobic exercise, resistance training, yoga, high-intensity interval training, and lifestyle-based physical activity interventions.
The findings showed that exercise training improved smoking abstinence outcomes. Across 23 trials involving 6,643 participants, individuals in exercise programs were 15% more likely to achieve continuous abstinence compared with those in control groups. Across another 18 trials involving 4,455 participants, exercise increased seven-day point prevalence abstinence by 21%. In addition, analysis of eight studies found that participants in exercise programs smoked an average of 2.12 fewer cigarettes per day than controls.
The most immediate benefits were observed for nicotine cravings. Studies examining single exercise sessions found moderate-to-large reductions in cravings immediately after exercise, with benefits still evident 10, 20, and 30 minutes later. Higher-intensity exercise appeared especially effective, producing the greatest reductions in craving levels. Researchers noted that these rapid effects may be particularly useful during moments of intense urge, when the risk of relapse is highest.
The review also suggested that exercise type and intensity may influence outcomes. Aerobic exercise showed the clearest benefits for long-term smoking abstinence, while higher-intensity exercise produced the strongest short-term craving reductions. At the same time, the researchers highlighted several limitations. Exercise training did not significantly reduce long-term cravings, and the overall certainty of evidence for abstinence outcomes was rated as low because of issues such as study heterogeneity, imprecision, risk of bias, and possible publication bias. However, the evidence supporting reductions in cigarette consumption and short-term cravings was rated as moderate certainty.
Another important gap identified by the review was the complete absence of vaping-specific studies. None of the included trials examined vaping cessation outcomes, despite the growing prevalence of vaping and dual use of cigarettes and e-cigarettes. The researchers say future studies should urgently investigate how exercise may support vaping cessation, as well as determine the most effective exercise types, intensities, and delivery methods. Overall, the findings suggest exercise could become a valuable addition to smoking cessation services because it can be self-directed, community-based, digitally supported, or integrated into existing health programs. While the effects on long-term abstinence were modest, the consistent reductions in cigarette use and nicotine cravings indicate that exercise may help more smokers manage cravings, reduce tobacco-related harm, and improve their chances of quitting successfully.
More information: Ben Singh et al, Exercise-based interventions for smoking cessation: A systematic review and meta-analysis, Journal of Sport and Health Science. DOI: 10.1016/j.jshs.2026.101138
