The CoEHAR Indonesia, strongly supported by Prof. Riccardo Polosa, lays the first scientific pillar for harm reduction research in the Asian region. A recent study conducted by researchers at Padjadjaran University investigated whether switching from conventional cigarettes to electronic cigarettes could have an effect on body mass index (BMI) in young male smokers. The results, although preliminary, show that in the first three months no significant changes in body weight were observed.
Nicotine is known to act as an appetite suppressant and can increase energy expenditure, partly explaining the lower BMI often observed among smokers. However, it remains unclear whether switching to vaping may alter this metabolic balance. The Indonesian study set out precisely this objective, focusing in particular on the effects in the first months after abandoning combustion.
For the research, 47 male smokers aged between 20 and 40 years were recruited. Participants were divided into two groups. Switch group: 30 subjects who stopped smoking conventional cigarettes and switched to electronic cigarettes. Control group: 17 subjects who continued to smoke traditional cigarettes.
BMI was measured at baseline and after three months, using statistical analyses to assess intra-group variations and comparisons between groups.
Main results
The study found that, over the first three months, switching from traditional cigarettes to electronic cigarettes did not lead to significant changes in body mass index. Both those who continued to smoke combustible cigarettes and those who switched to vaping showed substantially stable values, with no significant differences between the two groups.
In summary, at least in the short term, switching to electronic cigarettes appears to have a “neutral” impact on body weight in male smokers. The authors emphasize, however, that e-cigarettes should not be regarded as a weight-control tool. To determine whether significant differences may emerge in the medium and long term, larger studies with extended follow-up will be required.
Commenting on the results, Dr. Indra Mustika Setia Pribadi, author of the study, stated:
“This study is a crucial starting point: it provides initial data that must be interpreted with caution but that highlight the need for longer follow-up research. It will be important to include variables such as diet, physical activity, and metabolic parameters to understand whether, over time, significant differences may emerge. We are still at the beginning of scientific studies on populations in the Asian hub, but important aspects such as the presence of vapers and the spread of retail outlets for smoke-free products have already been analyzed. This new work is part of a growing line of research that aims to provide a more complete description of the impact of vaping in Asia and the possibility of introducing harm reduction tools in one of the areas of the world with the highest number of smokers.”
For CoEHAR, these results confirm the importance of rigorously investigating the long-term effects of vaping, not only on respiratory and cardiovascular health but also on metabolic aspects. The research activities fall within the framework of the LEGO interdisciplinary exchange project, funded by the European Union’s NextGenerationEU resources under the PNRR, which has already featured Prof. Riccardo Polosa as a key figure in cultural and scientific exchange.
