Gender differences influence overweight smokers' experimentation with electronic nicotine delivery systems

Area of Science:

• Public Health
• Tobacco Control
• Behavioral Science

Background:

• Overweight and obese individuals who use tobacco face elevated risks for cancer, diabetes, heart disease, and chronic tobacco-related conditions.
• Understanding concurrent use of electronic nicotine delivery systems (ENDS) among smokers is crucial for preventing tobacco-related health risks in this comorbid population.

Purpose of the Study:

• To monitor trends in ENDS experimentation among overweight and obese smokers in the US.
• To investigate the association between weight status, gender, and ENDS experimentation.
• To assess if ENDS experimentation impacts cigarette use and dependence in this population.

Main Methods:

• Utilized data from the California Longitudinal Smokers Study (CLSS) cohort established in 2011.
• Surveyed current cigarette smokers at baseline (2011) and follow-up (2012) regarding tobacco use and health behaviors.
• Analyzed trends in ENDS experimentation, particularly among overweight/obese smokers and women.

Main Results:

• Observed a significant increase in reported ENDS experimentation.
• Overweight or obese smokers were more likely to experiment with ENDS, as were women.
• ENDS experimentation was not linked to reduced cigarette use or decreased cigarette dependence.

Conclusions:

• Continued surveillance of this vulnerable population is necessary.
• Further research is needed to understand the health impacts of ENDS experimentation.
• It remains unclear if ENDS facilitate switching to non-combustible tobacco or perpetuate cigarette dependence.