The Sheffield NHS Stop Smoking Service and The People’s Movement are urging smokers in the city to walk away their cravings after new research has found that gentle physical activity, such as walking, can reduce tobacco cravings*.

Research from Exeter University published in the international journal ‘Addiction’ showed that all 12 participants involved in the study had reduced cigarette cravings when they did moderate exercise, lasting as little as five minutes. A brisk walk also reduced withdrawal symptoms such as stress, anxiety and poor concentration.

The Sheffield NHS Stop Smoking Service want to highlight the research and encourage people to dig out their walking boots. The service offers free one-to-one and group support and by complementing their support with regular exercise, it will mean that people are presented with more ways of staying smokefree.

Sheffield’s physical activity campaign, The People’s Movement, is also encouraging smokers in the city to increase the amount of exercise they do and at the same time benefit from stopping smoking and becoming healthier in general. The campaign encourages people to exercise for 30 minutes five times a week, and the new research will give smokers that extra push to help them quit.

Further research around physical activity has found that taking regular aerobic exercise could delay aging for up to 12 years**. The research by Dr Roy J. Shephard at Toronto University, found that relatively high-intensity aerobic exercise over a relatively long period of time could boost maximal aerobic power by 25 per cent, that’s the equivalent of turning the biological clock back up to 12 years for older people.

Similarly, previous research from the International Journal of Dermatology, 2001, looked at the difference between facial wrinkling in aged smokers and the non-smoking population. The study concluded that prominent facial wrinkling was significantly more common amongst smokers than non-smokers, not only in the relatively young but also among the aged population.

Sheila Paul, Consultant in Public Health at Sheffield PCT, said: “If people are struggling to cope with tobacco cravings we offer nicotine replacement therapy, such as patches, but why not increase your exercise levels too to help the withdrawal symptoms and help you to lead a healthier lifestyle all round!“

Diana Radford, Activity Sheffield Development Manager and spokesperson for The People’s Movement said: “The new research is yet more proof that increasing your physical activity levels helps you to become more healthy. In this instance, the fact that physical activity helps with cigarette cravings will hopefully mean more smokers in the city will increase their activity levels and subsequently manage to kick the habit.”

Smokers who wish to quit can call the Sheffield NHS Stop Smoking Service on 0800 068 4490 (you will not be charged for calls made from a landline) or visit www.smokefreesheffield.co.uk. The Service provides highly effective programmes that include nicotine replacement therapy, such as patches, and similar medication on NHS prescription.

Anyone who would like more information on how they can increase their physical activity can visit www.thepeoplesmovement.co.uk