Step-up to Quit: Using Low-to-moderate Intensity Exercise for Reducing Smoking Cue Reactivity Among Low-income Smokers

Tobacco use and lack of physical activity (PA) are preventable health behaviors contributing to disproportionate rates of morbidity/mortality (MM) among low income underserved adults. Comprehensive interventions incorporating treatment of multiple risk behaviors can have immense public health impact. The goal of this study is to improve uptake of PA during the pre-quit period by promoting low to moderate intensity PA (LMPA/walking) during the pre-quit preparatory period to promote smoking cessation among low-income sedentary smokers. Eligible participants (sedentary, \>5 cigs/day) will be randomized to 8-week LMPA vs. standard of care (SCC) intervention. LMPA group intervention focuses on (a) increasing daily steps using a tailored algorithm with a goal of reaching 10,000 steps/day by Week 4 (quit day) and (b) integrates PA with evidence-based smoking cessation programming by explicitly linking short bouts of PA with urge management training during the pre-quit period. The SCC group receives standard care smoking cessation counseling. Group differences in quit day reduction (extinction) of smoking urge reactivity using an analog cue-exposure paradigm, and smoking quit rates at 1-week and 1-month follow-up will be examined.