Intentional weight loss and smoking in young adults.
OBJECTIVE
To investigate whether current smoking and lifetime snuff use are associated with a lifetime history of major (>/=5 kg) intentional weight loss in young adults, and to examine the dependence of this association on familial factors.


METHODS
Cross-sectional population-based questionnaire survey of young adult Finnish twins participating in the fourth wave of the longitudinal FinnTwin-16-study in 2000-2002.


METHODS
A total of 4521 young adult Finnish twins aged 23-27 y.


METHODS
Questionnaire data on the number of intentional weight-loss episodes and on body mass index (BMI), cigarette smoking and snuff use, educational level, and number of subjects' own children.


RESULTS
Current daily smoking was strongly associated with a history of two or more intentional major weight-loss episodes (lost >/=5 kg twice or more lifetime) both in women odds ratio (OR 1.87; 95%; confidence interval (CI) 1.39-2.50) and in men (OR 2.00; 95% CI 1.37-2.90). Frequent lifetime snuff use was statistically significantly associated with recurrent intentional weight loss episodes in men (OR 1.51; 95% CI 1.08-2.13). Among the twin pairs discordant for daily smoking, the smoking twin was more likely than the nonsmoking co-twin to have recurrent intentional weight-loss episodes (OR 1.57; 95% CI 1.03-2.41). These episodes were also strongly associated with high BMI. Education was inversely related to recurrent intentional weight-loss episodes in men.


CONCLUSIONS
Tobacco use is strongly associated with a lifetime history of recurrent intentional major weight-loss episodes in early adulthood. This represents a major challenge to existing attitudes on smoking prevention and the promotion of healthful weight control.
Saarni
S E
SE
Department of Public Health, University of Helsinki, Finland. suoma.saarni@helsinki.fi
Silventoinen
K
K
Rissanen
A
A
Sarlio-Lähteenkorva
S
S
Kaprio
J
J
D000328:Adult; D015992:Body Mass Index; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D004032:Diet; D004522:Educational Status; D005190:Family / Q000523:psychology; D005260:Female; D005387:Finland / Q000453:epidemiology; D006801:Humans; D033182:Intention; D008297:Male; D017678:Sex Distribution; D012907:Smoking / Q000523:psychology*; D014030:Tobacco, Smokeless; D015431:Weight Loss