Meghan E Morean1, Krysten W Bold2, Grace Kong3, Deepa R Camenga4, Patricia Simon5, Asti Jackson6, Dana A Cavallo7, Suchitra Krishnan-Sarin8. 1. Department of Psychology, Oberlin College, 120 West Lorain Street, Oberlin, OH 44074, USA; Department of Psychiatry, Yale University School of Medicine, 34 Park Street, New Haven, CT 06519, USA. Electronic address: meghan.morean@oberlin.edu. 2. Department of Psychiatry, Yale University School of Medicine, 34 Park Street, New Haven, CT 06519, USA. Electronic address: krysten.bold@yale.edu. 3. Department of Psychiatry, Yale University School of Medicine, 34 Park Street, New Haven, CT 06519, USA. Electronic address: grace.kong@yale.edu. 4. Departments of Emergency Medicine and Pediatrics, Yale University School of Medicine, 464 Congress Avenue (Suite 260), New Haven, CT 06519, USA. Electronic address: deepa.camenga@yale.edu. 5. Department of Psychiatry, Yale University School of Medicine, 389 Whitney Avenue New Haven, CT 06511, USA. Electronic address: p.simon@yale.edu. 6. Department of Psychiatry, Yale University School of Medicine, 34 Park Street, New Haven, CT 06519, USA. Electronic address: asti.jackson@yale.edu. 7. Department of Psychiatry, Yale University School of Medicine, 34 Park Street, New Haven, CT 06519, USA. Electronic address: dana.cavallo@yale.edu. 8. Department of Psychiatry, Yale University School of Medicine, 34 Park Street, New Haven, CT 06519, USA. Electronic address: suchitra.krishnan-sarin@yale.edu.
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Although weight-related reasons for smoking and vaping have been examined in adults, research in adolescents is lacking. Thus, we examined the prevalence and correlates of using flavored e-liquids for appetite control or weight loss in high school adolescents. METHODS: The analytic sample included 529 students who completed a school-based survey in Connecticut in Spring 2017 (50.6% female, 79.5% White, mean age 16.27 [SD = 1.18], range 13-19 years). Inclusion criteria were past-30-day vaping, using ≥ 1 flavored e-liquid (past month), and having non-missing data on flavored e-liquid use for appetite control and weight loss. Participants reported on sex, age, race, past-30-day vaping and smoking frequency, nicotine e-liquid use, flavored e-liquid use (e.g., tobacco, mint, fruit, candy), and flavored e-liquid use for appetite control and/or weight loss. RESULTS: Adolescent e-cigarette users (past 30-days) reported vaping flavored e-liquids for appetite control (13.8%) and weight loss (9.3%). Using flavored e-liquids for appetite control or weight loss, respectively, was associated with more frequent vaping (OR = 1.21; 1.21) and using more flavored e-liquids (OR = 1.33; 1.28, p-values < 0.01). Vaping candy-flavored e-liquids (OR = 1.16, p = 0.02) uniquely was associated with vaping for appetite control. CONCLUSIONS: A subset of adolescents reported using flavored e-liquids for weight-related reasons. These adolescents reported vaping more frequently than their counterparts, raising concerns about increased nicotine exposure. Research is needed to understand where adolescents learn about weight-motivated vaping (e.g., friends, social media) and whether weight-related motives promote e-cigarette initiation among e-cigarette naïve individuals or continued/escalating use among current users.
BACKGROUND: Although weight-related reasons for smoking and vaping have been examined in adults, research in adolescents is lacking. Thus, we examined the prevalence and correlates of using flavored e-liquids for appetite control or weight loss in high school adolescents. METHODS: The analytic sample included 529 students who completed a school-based survey in Connecticut in Spring 2017 (50.6% female, 79.5% White, mean age 16.27 [SD = 1.18], range 13-19 years). Inclusion criteria were past-30-day vaping, using ≥ 1 flavored e-liquid (past month), and having non-missing data on flavored e-liquid use for appetite control and weight loss. Participants reported on sex, age, race, past-30-day vaping and smoking frequency, nicotine e-liquid use, flavored e-liquid use (e.g., tobacco, mint, fruit, candy), and flavored e-liquid use for appetite control and/or weight loss. RESULTS: Adolescent e-cigarette users (past 30-days) reported vaping flavored e-liquids for appetite control (13.8%) and weight loss (9.3%). Using flavored e-liquids for appetite control or weight loss, respectively, was associated with more frequent vaping (OR = 1.21; 1.21) and using more flavored e-liquids (OR = 1.33; 1.28, p-values < 0.01). Vaping candy-flavored e-liquids (OR = 1.16, p = 0.02) uniquely was associated with vaping for appetite control. CONCLUSIONS: A subset of adolescents reported using flavored e-liquids for weight-related reasons. These adolescents reported vaping more frequently than their counterparts, raising concerns about increased nicotine exposure. Research is needed to understand where adolescents learn about weight-motivated vaping (e.g., friends, social media) and whether weight-related motives promote e-cigarette initiation among e-cigarette naïve individuals or continued/escalating use among current users.
Authors: Meghan E Morean; Ellyn R Butler; Krysten W Bold; Grace Kong; Deepa R Camenga; Dana A Cavallo; Patricia Simon; Stephanie S O'Malley; Suchitra Krishnan-Sarin Journal: PLoS One Date: 2018-01-04 Impact factor: 3.240
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