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APHA Scientific Session and Event Listing

Recorded presentation

Julie H. Carmalt, MS, Policy Analysis and Management, Cornell University, 435 MVR, Ithaca, NY 14853, 607-342-2143, jhc48@cornell.edu

Objectives: Previous research shows that girls are insensitive to cigarette price increases and that girls with a high body mass index, who perceive themselves as overweight, and who report trying to lose weight are more likely to initiate smoking than other girls. This paper is the first to build upon these findings and estimate price elasticities of smoking initiation for both black and white adolescent females who vary by weight, subjective weight, and weight management behaviors. Methods: Nationally representative panel data (NLSY97; 1997-2001) were merged with state cigarette prices. Discrete-time, multi-level hazard models (designed to control for state-level anti-smoking regulations/sentiment and to correct for clustering of observations within individuals) are used to calculate the risk of initiating smoking at each wave. Price elasticities are calculated based on the predicted probabilities of smoking initiation when cigarette prices are set at the minimum, maximum, and mean values. Results: Body weight and body image, but not prices, play a significant role in smoking initiation among white females. The reverse is true for black females. For example, white females who are overweight, or who report trying to lose weight, are less sensitive to cigarette price increases than white females who reporting doing nothing about their weight, or are of healthy weight, respectively. Conclusions: Policies aimed at raising cigarette prices via excise taxes may not be effective at preventing smoking initiation among adolescent females. Health promotion educators and substance abuse preventionists should address healthy ways to reduce and/or control weight, especially among white adolescent females.

Learning Objectives: At the conclusion of the session, the participant in this session will be able to

• Recognize the role of body weight and body image in smoking initiation among white and black adolescent females.
• Evaluate the effectiveness of raising cigarette prices (via excise taxes) as a smoking prevention strategy among adolescent females.
• Understand the importance of addressing weight and body image in smoking prevention programs targeted at adolescent females.

Keywords: Obesity, Smoking

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

Any relevant financial relationships? No

Recorded presentation