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Journal of the American College of Nutrition, Vol. 25, No. 4, 348-353 (2006)
Published by the American College of Nutrition

Smoking, Weight Loss Intention and Obesity-Promoting Behaviors in College Students

Shawna L. Carroll, MA, Rebecca E. Lee, PhD, Harsohena Kaur, MD, MPH, Kari J. Harris, PhD, MPH, Myra L. Strother, MD and Terry T.-K. Huang, PhD, MPH

Watkins Memorial Health Center, University of Kansas, Lawrence, Kansas (S.L.C., M.L.S.)
Department of Health and Human Performance, University of Houston, Houston, Texas (R.E.L.)
Departments of University of Minnesota School of Medicine, Minneapolis, Minnesota (H.K.)
Department of Psychology, University of Montana, Missoula, Montana (K.J.H.)
Friedman School of Nutrition Science and Policy, Tufts University, Boston, Massachusetts (T.T.-K.H.)

Address reprint requests to: Dr. Terry T.-K. Huang, Health Scientist Administrator and Program Director of Pediatric Obesity and Metabolic Syndrome, Endocrinology, Nutrition and Growth Branch, National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, 6100 Executive Boulevard, 4B11, MSC 7510, Rockville, MD 20852. E-mail: huangter{at}mail.nih.gov

Objective: To examine whether college smoking was associated with trying to lose weight and other weight-related behaviors.

Methods: We surveyed 300 students at the University of Kansas about smoking (ever, current, and amount), weight loss intention (y/n), weight-related attitudes, and eating and exercise behavior. Weight, height, and body fat were measured.

Results: About half the students (49%) self-identified as having ever smoked while 53 (17.6%) self-identified as current smokers. After controlling for sex, age, and ethnicity, ever smoking was not related to weight loss intention but was associated with greater pressure to maintain a healthy weight (p = 0.05), and having engaged in mild exercise on more days in the previous year (p = 0.05). Compared to nonsmokers, current smokers ate more at restaurants serving high calorie foods (p < 0.05) and ate more frequently in front of the TV (p < 0.01). Amount smoked was related to diminished use of exercise facilities (p = 0.03) and more frequent eating at restaurants serving high calorie foods (p < 0.05) and in front of the TV (p = 0.01).

Conclusions: Current smoking among college students was related to weight loss intention. Despite wanting to lose weight, current smoking was concomitant with obesity-promoting behaviors such as eating higher calorie foods and eating in front of the TV. College-based interventions to prevent smoking initiation or promote smoking cessation should include a focus on healthy eating, exercise and healthful ways to lose or maintain weight.

Key words: smoking, diet, weight loss, physical activity, college health






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Copyright © 2006 by the American College of Nutrition.