Physical activity among adolescent tobacco and electronic cigarette users: Cross-sectional findings from the Population Assessment of Tobacco and Health study

Introduction:
This text discusses a study examining the relationship between tobacco product use and physical activity among adolescents. The study uses data from the Population Assessment of Tobacco and Health (PATH) Study to analyze the likelihood of physical activity participation according to four categories of tobacco product use: never users, exclusive e-cigarette users, exclusive cigarette smokers, and dual users of both e-cigarettes and cigarettes. The study aims to quantify trends in physical activity participation among adolescent e-cigarette users compared directly with never users of any tobacco products, as well as to examine possible differences in activity among exclusive e-cigarette users and exclusive smokers in reference to never users of any tobacco products.

Key Points:

* The study uses data from the PATH Study, a nationally representative longitudinal cohort study of non-institutionalized U.S. residents ages 12 and older.
* The study focuses on adolescents aged 12-17 and categorizes them into four groups based on their tobacco product use: never users, exclusive e-cigarette users, exclusive cigarette smokers, and dual users of both products.
* The study examines the frequency of moderate-to-vigorous physical activity (MVPA), vigorous physical activity (VPA), and muscle-strengthening physical activity (MSPA) among the four groups.
* The study finds that exclusive e-cigarette users and exclusive cigarette smokers are less likely to participate in MVPA compared to never users.
* However, the study does not find any differences in VPA participation between exclusive e-cigarette users and never users.
* Dual users of both products are the least likely to participate in all three types of physical activity.
* The study also controls for various covariates, including age, gender, race/ethnicity, spending money, BMI, asthma, externalizing disorders, and internalizing disorders.

Main Message:
The study highlights the negative impact of tobacco product use on physical activity among adolescents. Exclusive e-cigarette users and exclusive cigarette smokers are less likely to participate in MVPA, while dual users of both products are the least likely to participate in all three types of physical activity. The study suggests that prevention tactics aiming to diminish the influence of e-cigarette use on adolescent health are warranted, especially for dual users who exhibit the lowest levels of physical activity participation. The study also emphasizes the need for further research to understand the relationship between tobacco product use and physical activity among adolescents fully.

Miller, Connor, Danielle M. Smith, and Maciej L. Goniewicz. “Physical Activity among Adolescent Tobacco and Electronic Cigarette Users: Cross-Sectional Findings from the Population Assessment of Tobacco and Health Study.” Preventive Medicine Reports 15 (September 2019): 100897. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.pmedr.2019.100897.