Diet quality of rural breast cancer survivors as measured by the Healthy Eating Index‐2005

Abstract

Rural women are at increased risk for obesity compared to urban women. Obesity is a risk factor for breast cancer recurrence, but little is known about diet quality of breast cancer (BrCa) survivors in rural America. The objective of this study was to determine diet quality of rural BrCa survivors using the Healthy Eating Index‐ 2005 (HEI). Baseline data were obtained from a 2 year weight management trial for rural BrCa survivors in the Midwest. Participants (n=128; age 57.8 ± 7.8 years, BMI = 34.4 ± 4.3 kg/m2) underwent two baseline 24‐hour multiple‐pass dietary recalls (one weekday, one weekend). The recalls were entered into NDSR software and HEI scores were determined. Possible HEI scores range from 0–100, with higher scores indicating better diet quality. Mean HEI score was 56 ± 11, similar to the national average for adult women of 59 ± 4. Fruit and vegetable intake was 1.2 ± 1.1 and 2.9 ± 1.6 servings per day, respectively. Macronutrient profiles were 36 ± 7% fat, 45.8 ± 7.6% carbohydrate, and 16.9 ± 4.1% protein. Age was significantly correlated with total HEI score (p≤0.05). Specifically, older women had higher fruit (p≤0.01) intake, and lower sodium (p≤0.05) and saturated fat (p≤0.05) intake. Total HEI score did not differ across degree of rurality. Rural BrCa survivors are not meeting diet quality recommendations, and younger survivors may be in greater need of diet quality education than older survivors. Support of research by NIH R01 CA155014