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Canadian Journal of Public Health = Revue Canadienne de Santé Publique logoLink to Canadian Journal of Public Health = Revue Canadienne de Santé Publique
. 2002 Sep 1;93(5):362–365. doi: 10.1007/BF03404570

The Relationship Between Body Weight Perceptions, Weight Control Behaviours and Smoking Status Among Adolescents

Anne-Luise Winter 111,✉, Nicole A de Guia 211, Roberta Ferrence 311,411,511, Joanna E Cohen 311,411
PMCID: PMC6979969  PMID: 12353458

Abstract

Objectives: This paper examines the relation between body weight perceptions, weight control behaviours and smoking status among a representative sample of Ontario students.

Methods: Bivariate and multivariate logistic regression analysis was used to evaluate the association between smoking status and perception of being overweight, and between smoking status and specific weight control behaviours.

Results: Among females, the odds of being a smoker were significantly higher among those who perceived themselves to be overweight and who had employed weight control behaviours in the last 12 months. Among males, the adjusted odds of being a smoker was higher only among those who skipped meals in the past 12 months.

Conclusions: Body weight perceptions and the use of weight control behaviours were significantly associated with predictors of smoking among adolescent females. This suggests a need to incorporate discussion on body weight perception and body image in smoking prevention and cessation programs targeted toward adolescent females.

Footnotes

(formerly OTRU)

Acknowledgements: The authors acknowledge the assistance of Dr. Ed Adlaf, of the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health, whose valuable insights on early drafts of this manuscript were gratefully appreciated.

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