Changes in Weight Among Individuals With Psychiatric Conditions or Socioeconomic Disadvantage Assigned to Smoke Very Low Nicotine Content Cigarettes

Nicotine abstinence leads to weight gain, which could be an unintended consequence of a nicotine reduction policy. This secondary analysis used weekly assessments of weight and ratings of “increased appetite/hunger/ weight gain” collected in three 12-week, randomized controlled trials evaluating the effects of cigarettes differing in nicotine dose (15.8, 2.4, or 0.4 mg/g) among individuals with affective disorders, opioid use disorder (OUD), and socioeconomically disadvantaged women. Linear mixed models tested differences by dose and time. Analyses first collapsed across populations and then separated out individuals with OUD because biomarkers suggested they used substantially more noncombusted nicotine. Across populations, weight increased significantly over time, averaging 1.03 kg (p <.001), but did not vary by dose nor was there any interaction of dose/time. “Increased appetite/hunger/weight gain” ratings increased significantly as a function of dose, with differences between low and high doses (1.95 and 1.73, respectively, p=.01), but not by time nor any interaction. In the combined group of individuals with affective disorders and socioeconomically disadvantaged women, weight and “increased appetite/ hunger/weight gain” ratings increased significantly by dose, with differences between low and high doses (1.43 vs. 0.73 kg, p=.003 and 2.00 vs. 1.76, p=.02, respectively). Among individuals with OUD, there were no significant effects of any kind on either outcome. Individuals with affective disorders and socioeconomically disadvantaged women gained weight and reported more subjective appetite/weight gain when given 0.4, but not 2.4 mg/g cigarettes, despite comparable decreases in nicotine exposure. However, neither change was clinically significant, suggesting minimal short-term adverse consequences of a nicotine reduction policy.