Race and sex associations to weight concerns among urban African American and Caucasian smokers

This study compared general weight concerns (Drive for Thinness, Body Dissatisfaction, and Cognitive Restraint) and smoking-specific weight concerns among adult African American and Caucasian women and men smokers enrolled in a smoking cessation clinical trial. Participants were 119 African Americans (73 female) and 182 Caucasians (90 female). Results revealed that general weight concerns were higher in Caucasians versus African Americans, and in women compared with men but there were no race by sex interactions. Drive for Thinness and Body Dissatisfaction was higher in women compared with men, and Cognitive Restraint was highest in Caucasian women. Finally, smoking-specific weight concerns were higher in Caucasian women than both Caucasian and African American men, with African American women intermediate. Results indicate that while Caucasian women preparing to quit smoking exhibited the highest levels of concern about weight, smoking-specific weight concerns, and certain sub-components of general weight concerns were also prevalent among African Americans and Caucasians. Future research is needed to elucidate how race and sex differences in weight concerns may impact smoking cessation.

Research Highlights
► General weight concerns were higher in Caucasians versus African Americans, and in women compared with men but there were no race by sex interactions.
► Drive for Thinness and Body Dissatisfaction was higher in women compared with men, and Cognitive Restraint was highest in Caucasian women.
► Smoking-specific weight concerns were higher in Caucasian women than both Caucasian and African American men, with African American women intermediate.