Faculty Articles

Reducing Alcohol Consumption to Minimize Weight Gain and Facilitate Smoking Cessation among Military Beneficiaries

Document Type

Article

Publication Date

12-2017

Publication Title

Addictive Behaviors

Volume

75

First Page

145

ISSN

0306-4603

Last Page

151

Abstract/Excerpt

Introduction

Smoking cessation-related weight gain can have significant negative health and career consequences for military personnel. Alcohol reduction combined with smoking cessation may decrease weight gain and relapse.

Method

A randomized clinical trial of military beneficiaries compared a standard smoking cessation (i.e., brief informational) intervention (N = 159), with a brief motivational smoking cessation intervention that emphasized reduced drinking to lessen caloric intake and minimize weight gain (N = 158).

Results

Participants who received the motivational intervention were significantly more likely to quit smoking at the 3-month follow-up (p = 0.02), but the differences were not maintained at 6 (p = 0.18) or 12 months (p = 0.16). Neither weight change nor alcohol reduction distinguished the 2 groups. Smoking cessation rates at 12 months (motivational group = 32.91%, informational group = 25.79%) were comparable to previous studies, but successful cessation was not mediated by reduced drinking.

Conclusions

Alcohol reduction combined with smoking cessation did not result in decreased weight gain or improved outcomes.

DOI

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.addbeh.2017.06.018

Link to Full Text
Peer Reviewed

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