Is there an association between current cigarette use and weight control behaviors among U.S. high school students? Free

A96

Purpose: Approximately one quarter of high school students currently use cigarettes. Previous research has suggested some youth use smoking as a method for losing weight. The purpose of this study was to describe the association of current cigarette use with specific healthy and unhealthy weight control practices among 9^th-12^th grade students in the United States.
 Methods: Data were analyzed from the 2005 Youth Risk Behavior Survey, conducted among a representative sample of 13,917 students in grades 9-12. Behaviors assessed included current cigarette use (past 30 days), trying to lose weight, past 30 day participation in five behaviors to lose weight or to keep from gaining weight, including two healthy (exercising; eating less, fewer calories, or foods low in fat) and three unhealthy (going without eating for ≥ 24 hours; taking diet pills, powders, or liquids; vomiting or taking laxatives) weight control behaviors, and body weight perception. Body mass index was calculated from self-reported height and weight. Separate logistic regression models were run to calculate adjusted odds ratios (AORs) for the association of current cigarette use with trying to lose weight (Model 1) and the five weight control behaviors controlling for trying to lose weight (Model 2). All models adjusted for gender, race/ethnicity, grade, perceived weight, and BMI category.
 Results: In Model 1, compared to students who were not trying to lose weight, students who were trying to lose weight had higher odds of current cigarette use (AOR=1.30, 95% CI: 1.15- 1.49). In Model 2, the association of current cigarette use with the two healthy weight control behaviors was not statistically significant. However, each of the three unhealthy weight control practices was significantly associated with current cigarette use, with adjusted odds ratios for each behavior approximately two times as high among those who engaged in the behavior compared to those who did not. These associations did not vary by gender, race, or grade.
 Conclusion: Some students, particularly those who engage in unhealthy weight control practices, may smoke cigarettes as a method of weight control. These results suggest that inclusion of smoking prevention messages into existing weight management interventions may be beneficial.