Associations of Smoking Behaviors and Body Mass Index Among American Participants of a Clinical Tobacco Cessation Program: A Pilot Study

Abstract

Background Tobacco usage and obesity remain critical public health issues in the United States. This study examined the relationship between smoking behaviors, specifically—cigarettes per day (CPD) and motivations to smoke—and body mass index (BMI). We hypothesized that motivations related to food or stress, as well as a higher CPD, will be positively associated with BMI. Methodology We analyzed the electronic medical records of 204 patients from the Johns Hopkins' Tobacco Treatment and Cancer Screening Clinic (TTCSC) between January and April 2022. Demographic information, smoking behavior, CPD, and motivations to smoke were recorded. Multiple linear regression analysis was performed. Results We found no statistical significance between motivations to smoke, CPD, and BMI. However, the age at a patient’s first visit to the TTCSC was negatively associated with BMI ( B = −0.152, P < 0.001). Conclusions Smoking behaviors were not significantly related to BMI in our sample. It is advisable for clinicians working in tobacco cessation clinics to consider the BMI of individuals who present for cessation services, especially for younger individuals who smoke. They may be more likely to have an elevated BMI at presentation.