A study from Manchester Metropolitan University has linked vaping to a physical fitness decline in young adults that matches the damage caused by smoking. Published in the peer-reviewed journal ERJ Open Research, the findings challenge the perception of electronic cigarettes as a harmless alternative to tobacco, particularly for younger demographics.
Researchers analyzed 75 active, healthy participants aged 18 to 30 with similar lifestyles, physical activity levels, and resting lung functions. The cohort was divided equally into three groups: non-users, cigarette smokers, and individuals who had vaped for approximately three years but never smoked.
To evaluate their physical limits, researchers subjected the participants to a progressively difficult cycling test while tracking heart rate, respiration, and blood lactate levels. Under exertion, the differences became clear. Both the smoking and vaping groups exhibited lower oxygen uptake, reduced overall fitness, and reported higher levels of breathlessness and leg discomfort than the control group.
Dr. Azmy Faisal, a senior lecturer in cardiorespiratory physiology at Manchester Metropolitan University, noted that even in active young adults with healthy lungs, both vaping and smoking led to poorer exercise capacity and faster muscle exhaustion. This means the daily quality of life for young vapers—such as climbing stairs, cycling to work, or maintaining a workout routine—can be compromised long before chronic lung disease develops.
The study adds to the growing body of evidence regarding the health risks of vaping, which is frequently marketed to appeal to teens and young adults. Beyond the physiological damage of nicotine exposure, vaping also carries a heavy environmental toll. Disposable devices generate tons of single-use plastic waste, toxic electronic waste, and discarded lithium batteries, compounding the public health challenge.