When it comes to making weight for a title fight, most people picture grueling workouts, strict diets, and maybe a lot of sweat in a sauna suit.
But UFC champion Kayla Harrison has added an unexpected tool to her weight-cutting arsenal — nicotine pouches. Yes, really.
The 34-year-old MMA star recently revealed that she turned to Zyn, a popular brand of smokeless nicotine pouches, to help drop 30 pounds in just three months — a transformation that helped her clinch a championship title this past weekend.
Zyn: The $1 Weight Loss Hack Catching on With Athletes
Zyn pouches have quietly exploded in popularity, especially on TikTok, where users rave about their ability to suppress appetite.
But it’s not just the internet crowd anymore — athletes, influencers, and even politicians are jumping on board.
Harrison credited the tiny white pouches, which cost about a dollar each, with helping her get from 165lbs to 135lbs.
After her win, she even posted on X (formerly Twitter):
“Shoutout to @zyn for getting me to 135. I’m not sponsored but I wanna be.”
The post immediately sparked a wave of reactions — some amused, others deeply concerned.
What Exactly Is Zyn and How Does It Work?
Zyn is a tobacco-free nicotine pouch that sits between your upper lip and gum, slowly releasing nicotine into your bloodstream.
The buzz can last for up to an hour, which is much longer than the hit from a cigarette.
Why do people use it for weight loss? Simple: nicotine suppresses appetite, stimulates adrenaline, and cranks up your heart rate — mimicking a “fight or flight” response that makes your body not want food.
The Dangerous Appeal: A Legal Drug That Keeps You From Eating
Nicotine has always been known to help reduce appetite.
Smokers have used it for decades as an unintended weight control method — but the dangers of lung cancer, heart disease, and addiction have made that route, understandably, controversial.
Zyn skips the tobacco and the smoke, but not the risks.
It still contains highly addictive nicotine, and doctors are warning that even this smokeless option isn’t the healthy shortcut people think it is.
Experts Say: Appetite Control Doesn’t Equal Health
Dr. Hector Perez, a bariatric surgeon, compared using Zyn for weight loss to using a chainsaw to slice a loaf of bread.
“Yes, it curbs your appetite,” he said. “But to rely on it consistently for something like a 30-pound drop? That’s not just extreme — it’s dangerous.”
He explained that to lose that kind of weight using nicotine alone would mean frequent, possibly constant, use — which quickly veers into the territory of chemical dependence.
What Are the Risks of Using Zyn Long-Term?
Zyn may look like a harmless mint tin, but doctors warn of serious consequences.
Nicotine increases heart rate and blood pressure, stressing the cardiovascular system and raising the risk of heart attacks and stroke.
It also affects brain chemistry, potentially leading to long-term dependence.
In the U.S., about 24 million people over the age of 12 are hooked on nicotine — that’s roughly 9% of the population.
Withdrawal symptoms include irritability, anxiety, restlessness, insomnia, and intense cravings.
Athletes May Be Doing More Harm Than Good
For someone like Harrison, who relies on peak physical condition, the irony is harsh: nicotine also damages lung function.
So while she may have made weight, the long-term tradeoff might include reduced stamina and breathing capacity — not exactly ideal for someone whose job depends on endurance.
Dr. Perez didn’t hold back:
“Zyn is the Wild West. You’re playing with your heart rate, blood pressure, and possibly your brain long-term.”
And Then There’s the Oral Health Fallout
The mouth isn’t safe either. Cosmetic dentist Dr. Pia Lieb warned that nicotine restricts blood flow to the gums, which leads to swelling, bleeding, and eventually gum recession.
That can expose the roots of your teeth, causing pain, decay, and sensitivity.
And let’s not forget — nicotine is still a carcinogen. Oral cancers, which kill 13,000 Americans a year, are on the rise.
Zyn’s Popularity Keeps Growing — Especially on the Right
Zyn is also having a political moment. Conservative voices like Tucker Carlson have embraced nicotine, even launching alternative pouch brands like Alp.
Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. was spotted popping a pouch during his confirmation hearing.
The FDA gave Zyn the green light earlier this year as a smoking alternative, allowing the sale of 10 different flavors in the U.S., including cinnamon, coffee, and menthol.
The “O-Zyn-pic” Craze: Gen Z’s Cheap Fix for Weight Loss
Young users have jokingly renamed Zyn as “O-Zyn-pic,” drawing comparisons to the weight-loss drug Ozempic.
Why? Because it’s a bargain — 15 pouches cost $5–$10, compared to Ozempic’s $1,000/month price tag without insurance.
Some speculate that nicotine stimulates the brain’s α3β4 receptors, which trigger feelings of fullness.
Others believe it may increase leptin, the hormone that helps control hunger and metabolism.
But again — there’s little evidence to back any long-term benefits, and plenty of reasons to be cautious.
Bottom Line: This Isn’t the Shortcut We Should Be Taking
Harrison’s victory was impressive, no doubt. But her shoutout to Zyn highlights a broader issue — the growing normalization of using addictive substances to chase quick fixes.
Sure, it might keep you from snacking. But at what cost?
As Dr. Perez put it bluntly:
“It’s not safe. It’s not sustainable. And it’s definitely not smart.”