Differential Associations between Weight Status (Obesity, Overweight, and Underweight) and Substance Use in Young Adulthood

Bibliographic Data

ID21646510
AuthorsH Isabella Lanza (0000-0002-6611-0865, Department of Human Development, California State University, Long Beach, CA, USA, corresponding author), Mónica Orozco (0000-0003-0238-1348, Department of Human Development, California State University, Long Beach, CA, USA), Gabriella Motlagh (Department of Psychology, California State University, Fullerton, CA, USA)
Year2022
Volume57
Issue11
Pages1663-1672
Publication date2022-09-19
Peer ReviewedYes
Open AccessNo
TypeARTICLE
VenueSubstance Use & Misuse (JOURNAL)
Journal identifiersISSN: 1082-6084 • E-ISSN: 1532-2491
PublisherInforma UK Limited (PUBLISHER • GB)
DOI10.1080/10826084.2022.2107670
PMID35946172
OpenAlexW4293105221
LanguageEN
Citations received1
References cited53

BACKGROUND: Past evidence suggests obesity co-occurs with tobacco/nicotine, cannabis, and alcohol use in young adulthood, but whether this relationship extends to nicotine or cannabis vaping is unclear. Furthermore, differential relationships between substance use and specific weight status categories (obesity, overweight, and underweight) have not been assessed. This study assessed prevalence of tobacco/nicotine, cannabis, and alcohol use by weight status categories in young adulthood. METHODS: Of the 1322 young adults (18-29 years; 20.5 ± 2.3 years; 63% female; 42% Hispanic/Latino/a/x, 30% Asian-American/Asian, 18% Caucasian/White, 7% Multiracial, and 2% African-American/Black) from a public, urban university were surveyed on their health-risk behaviors in the spring and fall of 2021. RESULTS: Multinomial logistic regression models assessed six-month follow-up substance use prevalence (never, lifetime but no past 30-d use, and past 30-d use) by baseline weight status (obese, overweight, underweight; reference: healthy weight). Obesity predicted lower odds of past 30-d nicotine vaping (aOR [95% CI] = 0.27 [0.08-0.92]). Overweight predicted higher odds of lifetime combustible cannabis (aOR [95% CI] = 1.58 [1.08-2.30]) and past 30-d binge drinking (aOR [95% CI] = 1.79 [1.12-2.85]). Underweight was associated with lower odds of lifetime cannabis vaping (aOR [95% CI] = 0.35 [0.12-0.99]) and combustible cannabis (aOR [95% CI] = 0.38 [0.16-0.87]). CONCLUSIONS: Differential relationships between obesity and overweight on tobacco/nicotine, cannabis, and alcohol use suggest greater specificity is needed when evaluating relationships between higher weight status and substance use. It appears that overweight young adults may be at higher risk of substance use than obese young adults. Greater efforts to consider multiple weight status groups, not just obese, may have significant implications for tobacco/nicotine prevention and intervention efforts targeting vulnerable populations

Binge drinking · Cannabis · Environmental health · Injury prevention · Nicotine · Obesity · Odds ratio · Overweight · Poison control · Psychiatry · Underweight · Young adult · Cannabis and Cannabinoid Research · Demography · Medicine · Smoking Behavior and Cessation · Substance Abuse Treatment and Outcomes · Gerontology · Internal Medicine

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