Vaping and smoking reduce fitness in young adults by 15 percent
A study of young adults shows that vaping is just as damaging to physical fitness and blood vessel function as cigarette smoking. Researchers warn that e-cigarettes are not harmless alternatives and pose significant long-term health risks.
Young adults who vape or smoke cigarettes experience a 15% reduction in fitness compared to those who have never used nicotine products, according to a study led by researchers at Manchester Metropolitan University. The findings, published in ERJ Open Research, reveal that both vaping and smoking impair exercise capacity, oxygen uptake, and blood vessel function, with vapers showing similar physical limitations to smokers. The study involved 75 participants aged 18 to 30, divided into three groups: non-users, smokers, and vapers with at least three years of experience. All participants had normal resting lung function and comparable lifestyles, including physical activity levels and alcohol consumption.
During incremental cycle exercise tests, vapers and smokers demonstrated significantly lower peak exercise capacity and oxygen consumption than non-users. Vapers achieved an average of 186 watts, while smokers reached 182 watts, compared to 226 watts for non-users. Oxygen uptake was also lower, at 2.7 liters per minute for vapers and 2.6 liters per minute for smokers, versus 3 liters per minute for non-users. Both vaping and smoking groups experienced earlier onset of breathlessness, leg fatigue, and elevated blood lactate levels, indicating reduced muscle efficiency. Ultrasound scans and blood tests revealed signs of vascular inflammation, suggesting harmful changes to blood vessels.
Dr. Azmy Faisal, the study’s lead author, emphasized that vaping “can lead to harmful changes to the blood vessels, lung efficiency during exercise, and approximately a 15% reduction in fitness compared to those who have never smoked or vaped.” He noted that the results challenge the perception of vaping as a safer alternative to smoking, particularly for young adults who have never smoked. The study’s findings align with the UK’s Tobacco and Vapes Act 2026, which bans vaping for individuals under 18 and aims to curb its use among young adults.
Researchers observed that vapers and smokers had comparable declines in blood vessel function, with vapers scoring 42% lower and smokers 44% lower than non-users. This suggests that both habits compromise circulation during physical activity. The study also highlighted that vapers, like smokers, faced increased breathlessness and muscle fatigue, even before reaching their maximum exercise capacity. Dr. Faisal warned that the normalization of vaping among young people could introduce “serious health risks,” particularly as e-cigarettes may contain toxic metals and trigger DNA damage.
Experts outside the study echoed these concerns. Dr. Filippos Filippidis of the European Respiratory Society’s Tobacco Control Committee noted that vaping’s appeal to youth through flavored products and low costs risks long-term health consequences. He called for stricter regulations to prevent young people from adopting the habit. Meanwhile, Dr. Stamatoula Tsikrika of the European Respiratory Society warned that while vapes may contain fewer cancer-causing substances than traditional cigarettes, they still pose risks through inflammation and genetic changes linked to lung cancer.
The study’s authors plan to conduct MRI scans to investigate the physiological mechanisms behind reduced fitness in vapers and smokers. They also stress the need for public awareness, as the UK’s vaping prevalence among adults surpassed smoking in 2025, with 5.5 million vapers. Despite NHS guidance stating that vaping is “less harmful than smoking,” the research underscores that it is “not completely harmless.”
As the debate over vaping’s health impacts continues, the study adds to growing evidence that long-term use of e-cigarettes may carry significant risks for young adults. With policymakers and healthcare providers urged to address the rising trend, the findings highlight the urgent need for further research and regulatory action to protect public health.
