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. 2018 Oct;35(5):344-356.
doi: 10.1177/1455072518800217. Epub 2018 Sep 20.

Weight concerns as a predictor of smoking cessation according to nicotine dependence: A population-based study

Eeva-Liisa Tuovinen  1 , Suoma E Saarni  2 , Taru H Kinnunen  3 , Hanna Ollila  4 , Otto Ruokolainen  4 , Kristiina Patja  5 , Satu Männistö  4 , Pekka Jousilahti  4 , Jaakko Kaprio  1 , Tellervo Korhonen  1
Affiliations

Weight concerns as a predictor of smoking cessation according to nicotine dependence: A population-based study

Eeva-Liisa Tuovinen et al. Nordisk Alkohol Nark. 2018 Oct.

Abstract

Background: Nicotine-dependent smokers find it difficult to quit smoking. Additionally, smoking-specific weight concerns may affect smoking cessation although the evidence is controversial. We investigated whether smoking-specific weight concerns predict the probability of cessation and, if so, whether the effect varies according to the level of nicotine dependence.

Methods: The study was conducted with a population-based sample of 355 adult daily smokers who participated in the baseline examination in 2007 and in the 2014 follow-up. Baseline nicotine dependence was classified as low or high (Fagerström Test for Nicotine Dependence; 0-3 vs. 4-10 points). Within these groups, we examined whether baseline weight concerns predict smoking status (daily, occasional, ex-smoker) at follow-up by using multinomial logistic regression with adjustment for multiple covariates.

Results: Among low-dependent participants at baseline, 28.5% had quit smoking, while among highly dependent participants 26.1% had quit smoking. The interaction between weight concerns and nicotine dependence on follow-up smoking status was significant. Among participants with low nicotine dependence per the fully adjusted model, greater weight concerns predicted a lower likelihood of both smoking cessation (relative risk ratio 0.93 [95% CI 0.87-1.00]) and smoking reduction to occasional occurrence (0.89 [95% CI 0.81-0.98]). Weight concerns were not associated with follow-up smoking status among participants with high nicotine dependence.

Conclusions: Weight concerns are associated with a smaller likelihood of quitting among smokers with low nicotine dependence. Weight concerns should be addressed in smoking cessation interventions, especially with smokers who have low nicotine dependence.

Keywords: nicotine dependence; smoking cessation; weight concerns.

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Conflict of interest statement

Declaration of conflicting interests: The authors declared the following potential conflicts of interest with respect to the research, authorship, and/or publication of this article: JK and TK consulted for Pfizer Finland on nicotine dependence from 2012 to 2015. THK has consulted for Pfizer (Global and Finland 2012–2014). E-LT, SES, HO, OR, KP, SM, and PJ have no conflicts of interest to declare.

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