Cancer Control Research
1R03CA093183-01
Clark, Matthew M.
BODY IMAGE TREATMENT FOR WEIGHT CONCERNED SMOKERS
Abstract
DESCRIPTION (provided by applicant):
This application will serve as the foundation on which the Principal
Investigator will build a major line of research dedicated to the area of
improving smoking abstinence rates in weight-concerned smokers. Many
individuals smoke to manage their weight. This subpopulation of smokers has
been classified as having weight concerns. Weight concerned smokers have lower
smoking abstinence rates compared to non-weight concerned smokers, and women
have higher rates of weight concern than men. Behavioral weight management
interventions added to nicotine dependence treatment have not been found to be
effective and pharmacological interventions have delayed rather than prevented
weight gain. New avenues need to be explored for this difficult-to-treat
subpopulation. A novel approach is to focus on changing the weight concerns
themselves by implementing a body image intervention. Negative body image has
been found to predict reduced rates of smoking abstinence. The primary aim of
this study is to evaluate the efficacy of body image treatment compared to
weight management intervention on improving the smoking abstinence rates in
weight concerned smokers after 12 weeks of treatment and at 6-month (week 24)
follow-up. A further aim is to examine the effect of body image treatment on
improving body image satisfaction, and reducing weight concerns in weight
concerned smokers. We hypothesize that the body image treatment will be
associated with higher 7-day point-prevalence smoking abstinence rates,
greater improvements in body image satisfaction scores, and decreased weight
concerns at end of treatment (week 12) and at 6-month follow-up as compared to
the weight management intervention. The ultimate goal is to develop effective
interventions that will reduce tobacco-related morbidity and mortality in this
population. This is consistent with the objectives of the National Cancer
Institute to develop and test new behavioral, pharmacological, and combination
therapies to treat nicotine dependence, with special emphasis on populations
at high risk. Subjects will be randomly assigned to either a 12-week group
cognitive-behavioral treatment for body image improvement (experimental group)
(N=20) or to a 12-week group behavioral weight management treatment (contact
control group) (N=20). Subjects in both conditions will receive bupropion and
prescription for home-based exercise. The major assessments will occur at
end-of-treatment (week 12) and at 6-month (week 24) follow-up. Dependent
measures include 7-day point prevalence smoking abstinence confirmed with
expired air carbon monoxide, and self-report measures of body image
satisfaction and weight concerns.
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