Smokers Add More Sugar to Food Despite Eating Less Sweets

If you've ever noticed a smoker liberally sprinkling sugar into their coffee or adding an extra spoonful to their cereal, science backs up that observation. A 2024 study of over 80,000 UK adults found that smokers were 36% more likely to add sugar to their meals compared to non-smokers—even though they actually ate fewer sweet foods overall.

The Sugar Paradox

The findings reveal a fascinating contradiction in smokers' eating habits. While smokers were 8-13% less likely to indulge in sweet snacks between meals or have dessert after dinner, they compensated by actively dumping sugar into their food and drinks. Think coffee loaded with sugar packets, sweetened tea, and extra sugar sprinkled on breakfast foods.

Researchers presented these findings at the European Congress on Obesity in Venice, Italy. The pattern was especially pronounced in male smokers, who the study identified as "particularly susceptible to less healthy dietary habits."

Why the Sweet Tooth?

The connection between cigarettes and sugar goes back decades. A landmark 1970 study in The Lancet found that heavy smokers consumed significantly more sugar than non-smokers, primarily through sweetened hot beverages. Back then, researchers were trying to determine whether sugar or smoking was the real villain behind heart disease—spoiler alert: it was the cigarettes.

But why do smokers crave that extra sweetness? Several theories exist:

• Dulled taste buds: Smoking damages taste receptors, potentially making foods taste less sweet and prompting smokers to add more sugar for the same flavor impact
• Nicotine and blood sugar: Nicotine affects insulin sensitivity and glucose metabolism, which may trigger sugar cravings
• Oral fixation: The hand-to-mouth habit of smoking may extend to frequently stirring sugar into drinks
• Appetite suppression compensation: Since smoking suppresses appetite, smokers may unconsciously seek quick energy from added sugars

The Health Double-Whammy

This sugar-adding behavior contributes to what researchers describe as the generally "worse diet quality" observed in smokers. Combined with the well-documented risks of smoking itself—lung cancer, heart disease, stroke—the added sugar creates a concerning pattern of compounding health risks.

The irony? Many smokers cite appetite suppression as a reason they continue smoking, yet they're simultaneously consuming excess sugar that contributes to weight gain, diabetes risk, and cardiovascular problems. It's a health trade-off that makes no sense.

So the next time you see someone chain-smoking while dumping sugar into their fourth cup of coffee, just know there's actual science behind that seemingly random combination of habits. The cigarettes and the sugar bowl go together like... well, like two things that are both terrible for you.