Differential effects of a body image exposure session on smoking urge between physically active and sedentary female smokers.

Abstract

Smoking is often used as a maladaptive weight control strategy among female smokers. Many of the perceived benefits accrued from smoking, including enhanced mood, reduced anxiety, and weight control, can also be achieved through physical activity. The purpose of this study was to examine the effects of a novel behavioral task (body-image exposure) that was designed to elicit body image and weight concerns on urge to smoke among 18-24 year old female smokers who vary in levels of physical activity. Using a cue-reactivity paradigm, 16 sedentary (SE) and 21 physically active (PA) female smokers (≥5 cigarettes/day for past 6 months) were exposed to a pilot tested body-image exposure session. Self-reported urge and latency to first puff were obtained before and after exposure session. Paired sample t tests showed significant increases in self-reported urge (p < .01) and quicker latency to first puff (p < .01) at posttest for the entire sample compared with pretest. Results of partial correlation (controlling for body mass index [BMI], nicotine dependence, withdrawal, and depressive symptoms) showed that increased time engaging in vigorous intensity physical activity was associated with lower self-reported urge to smoke at post (r = -0.44; p = .01) but not with latency to first puff (r = -.10; p = .62). These results suggest that among weight-concerned female smokers, physical activity may attenuate smoking urges in a context where weight concerns are increased. Future research should continue to explore effects of physical activity on reactivity to body image and smoking cues and variability in smoking cue-reactivity related to physical activity.

The association between different types of physical activity and smoking behavior

“…At the same time, sedentary behavior is significantly associated with mental illness, and prolonged sitting increases the risk of anxiety, depression, and suicide [ 37 ]. While another study has shown that for smokers, smoking can bring many perceived benefits, including enhanced mood, reduced anxiety, and weight control [ 38 ]. The negative effects of sedentary behavior may induce some people to smoke for relief.…”

Women's Smoking as an Important Problem of Public Health

“…Such motives are common in adolescence. Scientists [33,34] argue that the motivational factors that provoke girls to smoke are social needs, namely: the desire to be "friendly" in the team, to hit the taste of the opposite sex, to establish communication processes (interaction) with peers, friends. These factors dominate in the adolescent and youth environment.…”

Change in Body Weight Does Not Mediate the Relationship Between Exercise and Smoking Cessation Among Weight-Concerned Women Smokers

“…Rather, physically active smokers may develop positive expectancies about the utility of exercise in aiding quit attempts, resulting in greater smoking cessation self-efficacy and lower need to further increase exercise during quit attempts. 46 However, because the present study was not designed to assess how exercise differentially affects physically active and sedentary smokers following smoking cessation, future work in this area is needed.…”