SLIPPERY ROCK — It’s called “Juuling” these days.

The pastime once known as “vaping” — which was aimed at replacing smoking — is now named for the popular electronic-cigarette brand Juul.

Juuling is largely a term used by teenagers.

Teen usage of e-cigarettes is on the rise, according to the U.S. Surgeon General’s website, with 20 percent of high school students reportedly using them in 2018.

Studies are starting to document possible side effects of Juuling.

Slippery Rock University exercise science majors Megan Pesci and Julia Tremel are looking at the effects exercise has on the e-cigarette habits of students using Juul. Their study started with Dr. Steven Verba, associate professor of exercise science and director of the group.

“We are looking at the relationship between a quick session of weight lifting or aerobic exercise and Juul cravings in college-aged students,” Verba said.

According to information provided by Verba, Pesci and Tremel, Juuls are popular because they’re small, have high nicotine content and come with flavored aerosols.

While Juuls have been used to help people stop smoking, the SRU team maintains they can cause alternative and negative health effects. Respiratory disease and reduced cellular function are two of their biggest concerns.

However, there might be a way to prevent Juulers from getting sick — and Juuling altogether.

“Research has shown that (a) short bout of exercise can reduce traditional cigarette cravings,” Verba said. “It is possible that this model may be applied to Juuling as well.”

Juuls are particularly popular among middle and high school students. But the SRU study is analyzing the effects e-cigarettes have on college students. Pesci, Tremel and Verba want to recruit 15 male and 15 female SRU students, ages 18 to 24, who “don’t regularly exercise and have no plans to quit using their Juul.”

Study participants attend three 30-minute “sessions” during which they rate their Juul cravings following different levels of activity.

The first session focuses on control. Participants complete an initial questionnaire rating their cravings at the beginning, after 15 minutes and after 25 minutes of no physical activity. In the second session, participants complete the same questionnaire at the same periods of time after 15 minutes on the treadmill.

“Day 3 is a 15-minute weight lifting session, again with the same questions,” Verba said.

The study incorporates both aerobic and resistance exercise. Many exercise smoking intervention studies focus on aerobics. Resistance exercise — weight lifting — hasn’t been as widely studied.

Five subjects completed all three sessions. The group is still looking to have the other 25 participants’ data compiled by the end of October.

Pesci and Tremel plan to present their findings in New Orleans in November at the National Collegiate Honors Council Conference.

“From a student perspective,” Verba said, “I hope that Julia and Megan have a valuable experience being student researchers.”

Of course, there is a bigger goal at stake.

“We hope to understand what influences Juul users’ cravings,” Verba said. “And ... see if exercise can be used to reduce this behavior.”