Anthropometric change among breast cancer survivors provided a behaviorally based weight loss intervention.

Abstract

9591 Background: A majority of women with breast cancer are overweight or obese. Weight gain and loss of lean body mass often accompany chemotherapy. Excess weight is associated with increased risk of recurrence and decreased overall survival. Our aim was to determine the feasibility of a behavioral based weight loss intervention for breast cancer survivors who did and did not receive chemotherapy and to determine if additional resistance training enhances weight loss. Methods: Women with a BMI of 26-50 and stage I-III breast cancer were recruited for a 6 mo weight loss program which included individualized calorie reduction, 300 min of weekly exercise and a weekly online “chat”. Resistance training consisted of 2x/wk 30 min resistance exercises. Anthropometric measures; kcal measured by 24-hr recalls; and physical activity measured by accelerometer were assessed. Results: Seventy-four women were recruited and 52 completed post testing. The average age was 54 and average time since diagnosis was 33 mos. The average BMI at study initiation was 33 kg/m2. Overall the survivors lost 5.9 kg (6.7 % of baseline weight). Based on paired t-test evaluation weight, BMI and % body fat were all significantly lower after the intervention for completers and when using intent to treat analysis. There were no differences between groups for anthropometric change. The kcal deficit was significant for the chemo + wt loss + resistance (274kcal) and the no chemo (327kcal) groups but not the chemo+ wt loss group (196kcal). Exercise did not significantly increase between the baseline and post testing. Conclusions: Breast cancer survivors lose significant amounts of weight with a standard behaviorally based weight loss intervention. Receipt of chemotherapy did not influence ability to lose weight. Resistance training may increase weight loss while decreasing amount of fat free mass lost. Supervised exercise may be needed to achieve increases in exercise. Clinical trial information: NCT01482702. [Table: see text]