WEIGHT CONCERNS AND SMOKING - A LITERATURE-REVIEW

Cigarette smoking has established effects on body weight. The effects of weight concerns on smoking initiation, maintenance, cessation, and relapse, however, are less clear. This review shows that weight concer ns are related to smoking behavior in complex ways that differ dependi ng on the smoking outcome (initiation, cessation, relapse), gender, an d age. Dieting behaviors and general weight concerns appear to be posi tively related both cross-sectionally and prospectively to smoking in White adolescent females. In adults, weight concerns specific to smoki ng cessation appear to be higher in current smokers and may have a neg ative influence on cessation and relapse. General weight concerns, how ever, do not differ by smoking status, nor do they appear to hinder ce ssation or promote relapse. Dieting behavior is most prevalent in form er smokers, least prevalent in current smokers, and intermediate in ne ver smokers, suggesting that ex-smokers may be dieting to control cess ation-related weight gain. Smoking cessation interventions that promot e dieting to control weight have not been successful in preventing ces sation-related weight gain, nor have they increased smoking cessation rates. Population-based prospective studies are needed to determine th e broader significance of weight concerns in relationship to smoking c essation in adults. Efforts to address weight concerns in smoking inte rvention programs may need to target a small subset of individuals for whom weight control smoking is a significant barrier to cessation.