Are treatment expectations related to reductions in craving and withdrawal symptoms following an acute bout of exercise?

• Craving and withdrawal relief was found following exercise for women attempting to quit using NRT.
• Expectancy beliefs regarding exercise as a strategy to reduce cravings and withdrawal symptoms increased over 5 weeks of a 14-week exercise program.
• Exercise expectancy at week 5 and increases from baseline to week 5 were unrelated to reductions in craving and sedation.
• Exercise expectancy at week 5 and increases from baseline to week 5 were mildly associated with reductions in psychological symptoms.

PurposeTo examine if expectancy beliefs towards exercise reducing smoking craving and withdrawal symptoms are related to these symptoms following an acute bout of exercise for women engaged in a quit attempt involving Nicotine Replacement Therapy (NRT).MethodParticipants (n = 149) underwent the 14-week Getting Physical on Cigarettes (GPOC) trial involving exercise and NRT. Exercise expectancy beliefs were collected at baseline (prior to week 1) and at week 5 (one week after quitting smoking and beginning 21 mg patch). At week 5, participants reported craving and withdrawal symptoms immediately prior to and following a 20-minute bout of moderate intensity exercise. To be eligible for subsequent analyses, participants had to demonstrate a carbon monoxide score of <6 ppm, adhere to their NRT program, and follow their acute exercise regime at the appropriate intensity (n = 91).ResultsA significant reduction in craving and withdrawal symptoms (i.e. craving, psychological, sedation) was found from pre- to post-exercise at week 5. Exercise expectancy beliefs demonstrated a trend effect increase from baseline to week 5. Both level of exercise expectancy (week 5) and residual change in exercise expectancy (baseline to week 5) were mildly associated with residual change in psychological symptoms, and unrelated to residual changes in craving and sedation.ConclusionExercise expectancy increases are unrelated to reductions in cravings and sedation and mildly related to reductions in psychological symptoms following an acute bout of moderate intensity exercise in smokers who have recently attempted to quit.