Vaping for weight control: A cross-sectional population study in England

Area of Science:

• Public Health
• Behavioral Science
• Addiction Medicine

Background:

• Weight gain is a significant barrier to smoking cessation.
• E-cigarettes (vaping) may offer a strategy for weight management post-cessation due to nicotine's effects and behavioral aspects.
• Understanding perceptions of vaping for weight control is crucial for public health messaging.

Purpose of the Study:

• To explore the views and practices of smokers, ex-smokers, and e-cigarette users regarding vaping and weight control.
• To assess the prevalence of using e-cigarettes for weight management.
• To gauge potential interest in vaping as a smoking cessation aid if weight control benefits are proven.

Main Methods:

• A cross-sectional survey was conducted in England (April-July 2018).
• Participants included past-year smokers (n=1320), current smokers (n=1240), and current e-cigarette users (n=394).
• Data were weighted to reflect the English population demographics.

Main Results:

• 4.6% of e-cigarette users reported vaping for weight control; 1.9% used it to replace meals/snacks.
• Awareness and belief that vaping aids weight control were low (8.8% and 6.4% respectively among past-year smokers).
• Women and older adults were less likely to be aware of or believe this claim, but 13.1% of current smokers would consider quitting if vaping helped weight control.

Conclusions:

• A small but notable proportion of e-cigarette users vape for weight control.
• Low awareness exists regarding vaping's potential role in weight management.
• Demonstrating that e-cigarettes help prevent weight gain could significantly increase smoking cessation attempts.