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Prevalence of Weight Concerns and Obesity Among Smokers Calling a Quitline

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  21 February 2012

Terry Bush*
Affiliation:
Free & Clear, Inc., United States of America. terry.bush@freeclear.com
Michele D. Levine
Affiliation:
University of Pittsburgh Medical Center, United States of America.
Mona Deprey
Affiliation:
Free & Clear, Inc., United States of America.
Barbara Cerutti
Affiliation:
Free & Clear, Inc., United States of America.
Susan M. Zbikowski
Affiliation:
Free & Clear, Inc., United States of America.
Tim McAfee
Affiliation:
Free & Clear, Inc., United States of America.
Lisa Mahoney
Affiliation:
Free & Clear, Inc., United States of America.
Laura Beebe
Affiliation:
University of Oklahoma College of Public Health, United States of America.
*
*Address for correspondence: Terry Bush, Free & Clear, Inc., Clinical and Behavioral Sciences, 999 3rd Ave #2100, Seattle, WA, USA 98104.

Abstract

Background: Cessation-related weight gain and weight concerns are common among smokers and have a negative impact on quitting. Obese smokers tend to gain more than the average amount of weight and also have lower quit rates. This article describes the prevalence of obesity and weight concerns among smokers calling a state quitline in the United States. Results: Among 3972 smokers using a state quitline, 33.3% were obese, 30.2% overweight, 33.3% normal weight and 3.2% under-weight; a total of 60.6% were concerned about cessation-related weight gain. Compared with non-obese callers, obese callers were more likely to be female, Hispanic, non-White and heavier smokers. Conclusions: This is the first study to report data on body weight and weight concerns of smokers calling a national quitline. Given the lower quit rates among obese and weight-concerned smokers, and the burden of smoking and obesity, there is an opportunity to develop new treatment approaches for this at-risk population.

Type
Articles
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 2009

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