A chocolate cake or a chocolate vape? Young adults describe their relationship with food and weight in the context of nicotine vaping.

ABSTRACT

INTRODUCTION: Emerging research has found that some young adults report vaping nicotine to control appetite and lose weight. Yet, there is little research on how young adults use vaping to manage weight, where they learn about weight-motivated vaping, and the role that food and weight motivations play in decisions to vape. METHODS: We conducted one-on-one qualitative interviews with young adults aged 18-25 years old in Los Angeles, California (N = 62) from June 2018 to June 2019, who self-reported using e-cigarettes on a weekly basis or more for at least 5 months prior to study enrollment. Interviews examined participants' thoughts, feelings, and experiences related to e-cigarette use, including their understanding of the relation of vaping with eating behaviors and weight management. We analyzed the interviews using the rigorous and accelerated data reduction (RADaR) technique. RESULTS: Participants reported pairing nicotine vaping with caffeinated beverages like coffee, pop/soda, tea, and after every meal (like patterns of combustible cigarette use). Participants also reported vaping nicotine as a tool to avoid binge eating and increase concentration while studying. Reports of vaping effecting appetite and eating behaviors also emerged. Vaping nicotine to suppress appetite and/or achieve weight loss was often reported in conjunction with an eating disorder. Participants reported learning about weight-motivated vaping from peers or deducing from cigarette effects and their own experiences with nicotine. Others mentioned controlling food cravings by vaping a similar e-liquid flavor. CONCLUSION: Nicotine vaping was used as a tool to control weight and suppress appetite, paralleling food- and weight-related behaviors associated with cigarette use. Findings suggest a need for targeted interventions that address the role of nicotine vaping in eating/weight-related behaviors.