Summary
Introduction:
This text provides an analysis of the relations among sweet taste preference, body mass index (BMI), and the use of e-cigarettes for weight control motives in young adults. The study aimed to evaluate the main effect and interactive associations of BMI and sweet taste food preference with e-cigarette weight control motives among young adult e-cigarette users.
Key Points:
* The study focused on young adults between the ages of 18-35 who currently used e-cigarettes ≥1 day/week for ≥1 month.
* Participants completed an e-cigarette product appeal experiment that also involved questionnaire-based measures of vaping motives and participant characteristics.
* The regression analysis revealed no main effect of BMI, a significant main effect positive association for sweet taste food preference, and a BMI x sweet taste preference interactive relation.
* The interaction was underpinned by a positive association between sweet taste preference and use of e-cigarettes for weight control at mean and +1SD levels of BMI and no relation at −1SD BMI levels.
* The study found that higher sweet taste preference might increase use of e-cigarettes for weight control, particularly in young adults with higher weight.
* The study suggests that taking into account sweet taste preference might be useful in interventions promoting healthy weight control strategies instead of e-cigarette use to address overweight/obesity in young adults.
Main Message:
The study highlights the importance of considering sweet taste preference in interventions promoting healthy weight control strategies among young adults. The findings suggest that higher sweet taste preference might increase use of e-cigarettes for weight control, particularly in young adults with higher weight. Therefore, public health efforts should aim to decrease adverse effects of tobacco product use and obesity in young adults by informing current and future public health efforts to decrease adverse effects of tobacco product use and obesity in young adults.
Citation
Mason TB, Leventhal aM. Relations among sweet taste preference, body mass index, and use of E-cigarettes for weight control motives in young adults. Eating behaviors. 2021;41:101497. doi:10.1016/j.eatbeh.2021.101497
