Reducing alcohol consumption to minimize weight gain and facilitate smoking cessation among military beneficiaries

• Published in: Addictive behaviors Vol. 75; pp. 145 - 151
• Main Authors: Sobell, Mark B., Peterson, Alan L., Sobell, Linda Carter, Brundige, Antoinette, Hunter, Christopher M., Hunter, Christine M., Goodie, Jeffrey L., Agrawal, Sangeeta, Hrysko-Mullen, Ann S., Isler, William C.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: England Elsevier Ltd 01-12-2017; Elsevier Science Ltd
• Subjects: Adult; Alcohol consumption; Alcohol Drinking - prevention & control; Alcohol use; Alcohols; Armed forces; Bupropion - therapeutic use; Careers; Dopamine Uptake Inhibitors - therapeutic use; Drinking behavior; Drug addiction; Energy Intake; Female; Humans; Male; Middle Aged; Military; Military Personnel; Motivational Interviewing - methods; Smoking; Smoking - therapy; Smoking cessation; Smoking Cessation - methods; Tobacco cessation; Tobacco Use Cessation Products; Weight; Weight Gain; Weight reduction; Young Adult; Alcohol consumption; Weight gain; Tobacco cessation; Military
• ISSN: 0306-4603; 1873-6327
• DOI: 10.1016/j.addbeh.2017.06.018

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.
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).
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 12months (p=0.16). Neither weight change nor alcohol reduction distinguished the 2 groups. Smoking cessation rates at 12months (motivational group=32.91%, informational group=25.79%) were comparable to previous studies, but successful cessation was not mediated by reduced drinking.
Alcohol reduction combined with smoking cessation did not result in decreased weight gain or improved outcomes.
•Tested smoking cessation intervention stressing less alcohol use to minimize weight gain.•Intervention designed for military beneficiaries.•Experimental group had higher cessation rate at 3months but not at 6 or 12months.•Drinking reduction did not account for the higher cessation rate at 3months.•Evidence-based methods to sustain smoking cessation are needed.