In-treatment behaviors in a multicomponent intervention to promote smoking cessation and prevent weight gain among smokers with obesity: A pilot study

Abstract

Introduction Smoking rates are quite high among overweight and obese individuals. Many smokers with excess weight are at increased risk for health complications and report that concern about post-cessation weight gain is a barrier to quitting. It is necessary to perform studies to assess the efficacy of interventions for smoking cessation among individuals with excess weight. Objectives To describe in-treatment behaviors, in terms of smoking and weight, in an integrated intervention for smoking cessation and weight gain management. Methods A total of 16 smokers (37.5% females, Mage=52.31, SD=9.58) were randomly assigned to one of the two following 8-week smoking cessation conditions: 1) Cognitive-Behavioral Treatment (CBT) for gradual smoking cessation + a Weight Gain Prevention (WGP) module for weight stability (n=7); 2) the same treatment alongside Contingency Management (CM) for smoking abstinence (n=9). Smoking behavior (cigarettes per day, carbon monoxide (CO) in expired air and urine cotinine) and weight were tracked at every visit from baseline through the end of treatment. Results Cigarettes per day significantly decreased in both conditions (p≤.028), as well as CO (p≤.018) and cotinine (p≤.043). Regarding body weight gain, participants maintained their body weight (Kg) from baseline to the end of treatment (CBT+WGP: Δkg= .671, CBT+WGP+CM: Δkg= .667, p≥.058) and their BMI (CBT+WGP: 30.56 vs. 30.85, CBT+WGP+CM: 29.74 vs. 29.85, p≥.139). Conclusions Preliminary data indicated that a multicomponent intervention to promote gradual smoking cessation and prevent weight gain facilitates in-treatment tobacco reduction and weight stability. CM procedures improved in-treatment smoking behaviors. Disclosure No significant relationships.

Keywords

• obesity
• contingency management
• weight gain prevention
• smoking cessation