THE INFLUENCE OF WEIGHT-RELATED VARIABLES ON SMOKING CESSATION

Recently, researchers have suggested the possible importance of weight -related variables, particularly among women, in relapse to smoking. T he present study prospectively examined the prediction of success vers us failure (both relapse and dropout) in a smoking-cessation program u sing several weight-related variables and gender. Weight-related varia bles accounted for a significant amount of variance in the prediction of dropout from a cessation program. The interaction of gender with Bo dy Mass Index (BMI) and gender with concern about postcessation weight gain also accounted for a significant amount of variance in dropout. Particularly, women who were lower in weight and women who were concer ned about postcessation weight gain were more likely to drop out of a cessation program before completion than the other participants in the study. Results also indicated that people who have chronic weight con cern and gain weight during a cessation attempt were more likely to dr op out of a cessation program before completion than individuals with chronic weight concern and little to no weight gain during the quit at tempt. Prediction of relapse to smoking during the cessation program w as not very revealing. One finding that did emerge was that, among tho se who completed the study and did not drop out, men were twice as lik ely to relapse as were women. These results indicate the importance of weight-related variables, particularly among women, in the prediction of success in a cessation program. Findings also suggest that dropout may be more revealing in predicting failure in a cessation program th an relapse to smoking in terms of the influence of weight-related issu es.