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Relationship Between Smoking and Weight Control Efforts Among Adults in the United States
Christina C. Wee, MD, MPH;
Nancy A. Rigotti, MD;
Roger B. Davis, ScD;
Russell S. Phillips, MD
Arch Intern Med. 2001;161:546-550.
Background The effect of weight control concerns on smoking among adults is unclear.
We examined the association between smoking behavior and weight control efforts
among US adults.
Methods A total of 17 317 adults responded to the Year 2000 Supplement
of the 1995 National Health Interview Survey (83% combined response rate).
Respondents provided sociodemographic and health information, including their
smoking history and whether they were trying to lose weight, maintain weight,
or gain weight.
Results Rates of smoking were lower among adults who were trying to lose or
maintain weight than among those not trying to control weight (25% vs 31%; P<.001). After adjustment for sex, race, education,
income, marital status, region of the country, and body mass index, the relationship
between trying to lose weight and current smoking varied according to age.
Among adults younger than 30 years, those trying to lose weight were more
likely to smoke currently (odds ratio, 1.36 [95% confidence interval, 1.09-1.70]),
whereas older adults trying to lose weight were as likely or less likely to
smoke compared with adults not trying to control weight. After adjustment,
smokers of all ages who were trying to lose weight were more likely to express
a desire to quit smoking. Results were similar after stratification by sex
and body mass index.
Conclusions Adults younger than 30 years are more likely to smoke if they are trying
to lose weight. However, smokers of all ages who are trying to lose weight
are more likely to want to stop smoking. Patients' weight control efforts
should not discourage clinicians from counseling about smoking cessation.
Education about smoking and healthy weight control methods should target young
adults.
From the Division of General Medicine and Primary Care, Beth Israel
Deaconess Medical Center (Drs Wee, Davis, and Phillips), and Tobacco Research
and Treatment Center, Massachusetts General Hospital (Dr Rigotti), Harvard
Medical School, Boston, Mass.
Corresponding author and reprints: Christina C. Wee, MD, MPH, Division
of General Medicine and Primary Care, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center,
330 Brookline Ave, Libby 330, Boston, MA 02215 (e-mail: cweekuo{at}caregroup.harvard.edu).
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