Health4Families: An intervention to improve weight and health behaviors in families with hereditary breast/ovarian cancer or Lynch syndrome.

Abstract

1555 Background: Physical activity, diet, and healthy weight may reduce cancer risk in hereditary breast and ovarian cancer (HBOC) and Lynch syndrome (LS) families. Evidence-based programs to help affected families make these behavioral changes are lacking. We evaluated data from a 16-week family-centered lifestyle intervention trial for individuals with HBOC or LS germline gene mutations and their relatives. Methods: Index cases with HBOC- or LS-associated mutations were recruited from an institutional registry and advocacy organizations, and identified relatives to participate with them in the study. Those eligible had BMI>25 and/or did not meet recommendations for exercise or fruit/vegetable consumption. Participants were randomized to multiple conditions including text messaging, online weight/diet monitoring, an online social network, and E-mail or telephone coaching. All monitored activity using Fitbits. Behavioral outcomes were assessed online at baseline and 8 weeks. Results: 65 HBOC index cases with 63 family members, and 35 LS index cases with 36 family members participated in the study. At 8 weeks, participants lost 3.2 pounds on average (p<.0001) and increased weekly physical activity from 126 to 172 minutes (p=.0012). LS participants decreased self-reported sedentary time (p=.0126). Program effects did not differ between index cases and family members. Participants reported high program satisfaction; 78% would recommend it to a family member. Conclusions: Hereditary cancer families can benefit from behavioral interventions to improve weight and physical activity. Data show that distance-based methods are effective, and are ideally suited for families with a hereditary predisposition to cancer but who are often geographically dispersed. Clinical trial information: NCT02194387. [Table: see text]