Summary
Introduction:
This text is a summary of a scientific study examining the association between electronic cigarette (e-cigarette) use and intentions to lose weight among a nationally representative sample of high school students in the United States. The study aims to determine if past 30-day e-cigarette use is associated with greater relative risk of intentions to lose weight among the full population, as well as among boys and girls separately. The findings demonstrate a significant association between e-cigarette use and intentions to lose weight among high school students, with some variation by sex.
Key points:
* The study utilizes data from the Youth Risk Behavior Surveillance survey, United States, 2015, a nationally representative sample of 9-12 grade students.
* The sample size is 13,034, with 23.7% of the sample reporting past 30-day e-cigarette use.
* The study finds that e-cigarette users had a 1.38 (95% CI=1.07% to 1.78%) greater relative risk of intentions to lose weight, relative to not trying to change their weight status, when adjusting for sex, race/ethnicity, grade, past 30-day tobacco use, and perceived body weight.
* Subsample analyses reveal that female e-cigarette users had a relative risk of 1.44 (95% CI=1.05% to 1.97%) for intentions to lose weight, while male e-cigarette users had a relative risk of 1.40 (95% CI = 1.04% to 1.88%) for intentions to gain weight, relative to not trying to change their weight.
* The study controls for strong predictors of weight loss intentions, including past 30-day tobacco use and perceived body weight.
* The findings suggest that individuals may rely on e-cigarettes for weight loss and/or management due to the appetite-suppressing effects of nicotine.
* The study highlights the need to monitor e-cigarette marketing tactics to ensure messages related to weight loss and body image are not used as predatory marketing tactics to recruit adolescent users.
Main message:
The study finds a significant association between e-cigarette use and intentions to lose weight among high school students, with some variation by sex. The findings suggest that e-cigarette manufacturers may be developing and patenting technologies related to e-cigarettes and weight loss, which may be used as predatory marketing tactics to recruit adolescent users. as such, it is important to monitor e-cigarette marketing strategies and motivations for e-cigarette use among youth to ensure these devices are not being used for weight loss and/or management.
Citation
Mantey DS, Omega-Njemnobi O, Kelder Sh. E-Cigarette Use Is associated With Intentions to Lose Weight among high School Students. Nicotine & tobacco research : official journal of the Society for Research on Nicotine and Tobacco. 2020;22(5):838-842. doi:10.1093/ntr/nty245
