Weight Status and Effects of Non-Tobacco Flavors on E-Cigarette Product Appeal

Abstract

Background Flavors in tobacco products may be salient drivers of tobacco product use among people with overweight or obesity. Yet, whether perceived appeal of e-cigarettes with different flavors varies as a function of weight status is unknown. Purpose: To conduct secondary data analyses of a laboratory experiment to examine whether weight moderates differences in perceived appeal of fruit, menthol, and tobacco flavored e-cigarettes in young adults who vape. Methods: Using a within-subjects experimental design, young adults in Los Angeles, CA, USA. (Mage = 25.36 ± 4.42 Range: 18–35) with normal weight (n = 48) or overweight/obesity (n = 51) were administered standardized doses of e-cigarette solutions varying in flavor (fruit, menthol, tobacco). Following each administration, participants rated the appeal of the solution (range: 0–100). Results: The extent to which menthol (vs. tobacco)-flavored e-cigarettes were rated more appealing was amplified among participants with overweight or obesity versus normal weight participants (flavor × weight interaction Estimate = 7.54, p = .01 95% CI = [2.30, 12.80]). There were no differences in the effects of fruit (vs. tobacco) flavored e-cigarettes on appeal as a function of weight status. Conclusions: Menthol flavors in e-cigarettes may be disproportionately appealing to young adults with overweight and obesity. Supplemental data for this article is available online at https://doi.org/10.1080/10826084.2021.1899229.