Intention to lose weight and use of electronic cigarettes among adolescents.

Introduction:
This text provides an analysis of the relationship between body mass index (BMI) status, weight-related intentions, and electronic cigarette use among adolescents. The study uses data from the 2015-2016 Texas School Physical activity and Nutrition (Texas SPaN) survey and examines the associations between e-cigarette use and weight-related intentions in adolescents with overweight or obesity.

Key Points:

* The study found that among adolescents with obesity, males intending to lose weight were twice as likely to use e-cigarettes as females intending to lose weight.
* No association was found between e-cigarette use and weight-related intentions among the subpopulation with overweight.
* The study found that there was an increased likelihood to use e-cigarettes among 11th graders as compared to 8th graders in bivariate analysis, but no differences between grades eight and eleven were found in multivariable models.
* The study found no racial/ethnic group nor socioeconomic differences in e-cigarette use among adolescents.
* The study used cross-sectional analyses, so causal inferences cannot be made, nor can inferences of directionality be made.
* Small sample sizes in certain sub-categories may have affected the models.
* The survey instrument in this study did not collect information on other important motivators or modifiers of e-cigarette use in youth, such as e-cigarette flavors or exposure to e-cigarette advertising.
* Smoking behaviors were self-reported, which may affect the accuracy of the data.

Main Message:
The study highlights the importance of understanding the associations between e-cigarette use and weight-related intentions among adolescents with overweight or obesity. The findings suggest that males with obesity who are intending to lose weight may be an important group to target for intervention. however, the study's limitations, such as the use of cross-sectional data and self-reported smoking behaviors, suggest that further research is needed to confirm these findings and to determine the directionality of the associations. additionally, the study did not collect information on other important motivators or modifiers of e-cigarette use in youth, such as e-cigarette flavors or exposure to e-cigarette advertising, which may also play a role in e-cigarette use among adolescents. Overall, the study emphasizes the need for continued research to better understand the factors that contribute to e-cigarette use among adolescents and to develop effective interventions to prevent and reduce e-cigarette use in this population.

Sanchez R, Ranjit N, Kelder Sh, Gill M, hoelscher DM. Intention to lose weight and use of electronic cigarettes among adolescents. Preventive medicine reports. 2021;23:101406. doi:10.1016/j.pmedr.2021.101406