In-treatment behaviors in a multicomponent intervention to promote smoking cessation and prevent weight gain among smokers with obesity: A pilot study

INTRODUCTION: Smoking rates are quite high among overweight and obese individuals. Many smokers with excess weight are at increased risk for health complications and report that concern about post-cessation weight gain is a barrier to quitting. It is necessary to perform studies to assess the efficacy of interventions for smoking cessation among individuals with excess weight. OBJECTIVES: To describe in-treatment behaviors, in terms of smoking and weight, in an integrated intervention for smoking cessation and weight gain management. METHODS: A total of 16 smokers (37.5% females, M(age)=52.31, SD=9.58) were randomly assigned to one of the two following 8-week smoking cessation conditions: 1) Cognitive-Behavioral Treatment (CBT) for gradual smoking cessation + a Weight Gain Prevention (WGP) module for weight stability (n=7); 2) the same treatment alongside Contingency Management (CM) for smoking abstinence (n=9). Smoking behavior (cigarettes per day, carbon monoxide (CO) in expired air and urine cotinine) and weight were tracked at every visit from baseline through the end of treatment. RESULTS: Cigarettes per day significantly decreased in both conditions (p≤.028), as well as CO (p≤.018) and cotinine (p≤.043). Regarding body weight gain, participants maintained their body weight (Kg) from baseline to the end of treatment (CBT+WGP: Δ(kg)= .671, CBT+WGP+CM: Δ(kg)= .667, p≥.058) and their BMI (CBT+WGP: 30.56 vs. 30.85, CBT+WGP+CM: 29.74 vs. 29.85, p≥.139). CONCLUSIONS: Preliminary data indicated that a multicomponent intervention to promote gradual smoking cessation and prevent weight gain facilitates in-treatment tobacco reduction and weight stability. CM procedures improved in-treatment smoking behaviors. DISCLOSURE: No significant relationships.