Evaluation of eating habits and practice of physical activity in colorectal cancer patients in the active phase of treatment

Abstract

Colorectal cancer is one of the most prevalent in men and women, and its development is associated with several risk factors, such as a sedentary lifestyle, obesity, alcohol consumption, and eating habits. This study aimed to present the results of applying the questionnaire on eating habits and physical activity from the Food Guide: how to have a healthy diet in the first chemotherapy session, after signing the consent form, and eight weeks after the first application. All patients with colorectal cancer under active treatment from July to December 2022 were invited to participate in the study. The Ethics Committee approved this project. During the research, patients underwent a new monitoring model that included the use of a chatbot and wearable device for eight weeks. The model aimed to ensure greater patient engagement with their treatment through interactions about symptoms and adverse effects, eating habits, and physical activity practice. As a result, there was a statistical reduction in the consumption of alcoholic beverages and fast foods and a statistical increase in fruit consumption. In addition, the findings indicate that the model contributed to a greater practice of physical activity by patients. For future work, we suggest applying this model to patients with other types of cancer to assess and extend the benefits of the model in different contexts of cancer treatment.