Introduction: Nicotine use among young adults is a relevant health concern. Recent studies have shown an increase in alternative nicotine devices such as vapes and nicotine pouches. Also relevant in this population, are disordered eating behaviors such as binging, purging, and calorie restriction. The current study will examine the motives underlying nicotine use and the relationship to disordered eating attitudes and behaviors. 

Methods: Data collection is ongoing with over 300 college students at the University of Wisconsin – Whitewater. Participants completed a survey assessing frequency of nicotine use, four types of nicotine use expectancies such as negative smoking consequences, positive reinforcement, negative reinforcement, and appetite/weight control as measured by the Short Form Smoking Consequences Questionnaire and modified versions for vaping and nicotine pouches respectfully, and disordered eating attitudes and behaviors as measured by the Eating Pathology Symptoms Inventory. 

Results: Although results will not be available until the spring of 2025, it is expected that higher scores in subscales of disordered eating attitudes and behaviors related to cognitive restraint, binge eating, purging, and negative attitudes towards obesity will predict higher prevalence of nicotine use. It is also hypothesized that there will be a correlation between nicotine use as an effort of weight and appetite control and these aforementioned disordered eating attitudes and behaviors subscales. Results gathered from this study will help to understand potential motives for nicotine use within the population of young adults exhibiting disordered eating attitudes and behaviors. This research aims to provide insight into the relationship between these two health harming behaviors to inform potential prevention and intervention strategies.