Relations among sweet taste preference, body mass index, and use of E-cigarettes for weight control motives in young adults

Abstract

While weight control is anecdotally reported as a motive for e-cigarette use, empirical evidence on correlates of weight control vaping motives is largely absent. This study evaluated main effect and interactive associations of body mass index (BMI) and sweet taste food preference—a construct defined by difficulty resisting sweet foods and consuming foods for mood regulation— with e-cigarette weight control motives among young adult e-cigarette users. Young adults (N = 99; 35% women) between the ages of 18–35 who currently used e-cigarettes ≥1 day/week for ≥1 month were recruited in Los Angeles, CA in January–August 2016. Participants completed an e-cigarette product appeal experiment that also involved questionnaire-based measures of vaping motives and participant characteristics, which are this paper's focus. Regression analysis of e-cigarette use for weight control motive outcomes revealed no main effect of BMI, a significant main effect positive association for sweet taste food preference, and a BMI x sweet taste preference interactive relation. The interaction was underpinned by a positive association between sweet taste preference and use of e-cigarettes for weight control at mean and + 1SD levels of BMI and no relation at -1SD BMI levels. Higher sweet taste preference might increase use of e-cigarettes for weight control, particularly in young adults with higher weight. Taking into account sweet taste preference might be useful in interventions promoting healthy weight control strategies instead of e-cigarette use to address overweight/obesity in young adults.