title: Association between Weight and Smoking Not Mediated by Weight Loss Attempts or Bullying.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Youth smoking and obesity may both be mediated by weight control behaviors and experiences of bullying. This study examines associations between smoking and obesity among youth, and explores whether associations are mediated by weight loss attempts or bullying experiences.
  
  
  METHODS
  Data from 24,173 grade 9 to 12 students in the COMPASS study (2012-13) were used to examine the prevalence of self-reported smoking, weight status, attempting to lose weight, and being a victim of bullying. Generalized linear mixed effects models were used to examine correlates of smoking.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Among youth, 11% reported currently smoking, 20% were overweight or obese, 42% reported attempting to lose weight, and 18% reported being bullied. Girls who reported attempting to lose weight had higher odds of smoking (OR = 1.42, p = .0039), and students who reported being bullied had higher odds of smoking (OR = 1.85, p < .0001). Both variables were significantly associated with smoking independent of weight status.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  For girls, weight loss attempts were associated with smoking. For both sexes, being bullied was associated with smoking, independent of weight status. Programs attempting to reduce smoking among youth should consider the effects of weight control behaviors and bullying irrespective of weight status.
authors.affiliation: Propel Centre for Population Health Impact, University of Waterloo, Waterloo, ON, Canada. lminaker@uwaterloo.ca.
authors.forename: Leia M
authors.initials: LM
authors.lastname: Minaker
authors.affiliation: School of Public Health and Health Systems, University of Waterloo, Waterloo, ON, Canada.
authors.forename: Scott T
authors.initials: ST
authors.lastname: Leatherdale
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D058445:Bullying / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009765:Obesity / Q000453:epidemiology; D009864:Ontario / Q000453:epidemiology; D050177:Overweight / Q000453:epidemiology*; D015995:Prevalence; D012574:Schools / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D012737:Sex Factors; D012907:Smoking / Q000453:epidemiology*; D013334:Students / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D015431:Weight Loss