"Does vaping have calories?" — It's a question that's been floating around among health-conscious vapers and those watching their waistlines. In this article, we’ll talk about the science of vaping and whether or not it has a caloric impact.

Ready? Let’s go!

Does vaping have calories?

Short answer? Yes, it has calories. Long answer? Yes, but vaping doesn’t have a significant caloric impact since the calorie intake is very little. E-liquids used in vapes contain components such as propylene glycol and glycerin that provide the calories. In particular, glycerin contains approximately 4.32 calories per gram, according to the American Diabetes Association. 

How many calories is in a vape?

E-liquids or “vape juice” usually consist of the following:

• Propylene glycol
• Vegetable glycerin
• Nicotine
• Flavorings
• Water

As mentioned earlier, only the first two components provide the calories in vape juice. They also make up approximately 99% of the vape juice, while the rest are the 1%.

While you’d think sweet-tasting flavorings would add a lot to the caloric content, they contain only a negligible amount of sugar. On the other hand, bothpropylene glycol and vegetable glycerin contain around 4 calories per gram. Knowing this, you can expect around 4-5 calories per gram of e-liquid consumed.

How many calories in a disposable vape?

Since disposable vapes use carts or cartridges pre-filled with e-liquids, you can expect the same amount of calories — around 4-5 calories per gram.

Can you gain weight by vaping?

Vaping doesn’t have any significant caloric value, so you don’t have to worry about gaining weight from it. However, it’s important to note that some studies note that vape users who quit vaping (whether temporarily or permanently) report an increase in appetite or changes in taste and smell perception, which can indirectly influence weight gain. 

Does vaping burn calories?

Minor activities like breathing, raising your hand, or vaping will always burn a minimal amount of calories simply because of the energy used up during the process. However, it’s very negligible and not significant enough to be a way to burn calories or lose weight.

On the other hand, vaping nicotine is shown to suppress appetite, which may directly lead to weight loss.

To sum it up

If you’re weight-watching, vaping shouldn’t be on your watch list as it doesn't provide any significant caloric intake, nor does it burn a meaningful number of calories. While vaping itself isn’t directly associated with weight gain, factors like changes in appetite after quitting may play a role. In the end, always consult your health service provider when considering the effects of vaping on your health.

FAQs

Will vaping break my fast?

Vaping doesn’t provide any significant caloric impact to produce an insulin response, so you don’t have to worry about it interfering with your fast.

Are vapes zero calories?

No, they still have calories. However, most vape juice or e-liquids contain only about 4-5 calories per gram, which isn’t enough to produce a significant caloric impact. 

Does vaping have sugar?

Vape juice and e-liquids usually don’t contain pure sugar. However, some vape juice — especially those with special flavorings — may contain sweetening agents that mimic the sweet taste of sugar. To be sure, if you have any concerns, always check e-liquid ingredient lists.

Do flavored vapes have calories?

While flavored vapes contain flavorings, they don’t really contain a more significant amount of calories than unflavored vapes. 

Do e-liquids contain calories?

Yes, e-liquids contain compounds like propylene glycol and vegetable glycerin that have caloric value. But since they’re designed for inhalation, they don't provide our body with calories in the same way they would if they were eaten.