Survey Details
Of 309 women who responded to the survey, complete data for pre- and post-diagnosis body mass index (BMI) were collected from 277 respondents, representing 15% of those surveyed.
Of these women, 254 had been diagnosed with stage I-III breast cancer; 33 had been diagnosed with ductal carcinoma in situ. The mean age of the patients was 59 years.
The results showed that for 20% of women, BMI increased from a healthy weight range at the time of diagnosis (BMI <25) to an unhealthy weight range (BMI >25). In addition, for 4.8% of patients, BMI increased from an overweight range (BMI 25 to <30) to obesity (BMI >30), and 60.7% reported an increase in BMI >1 kg/m2. Conversely, only a small proportion of women lost weight – 6% experienced a decrease of more than one BMI category.
Weight gain occurred within the first 2 years of diagnosis in 87% of women and within the first 12 months in 58%. In women who gained >10 kg (22 lb), 78% said they were highly concerned about it, as did 59% of women who gained >5 kg (11 lb).
Among all age groups (35 to 74 years), 69% experienced excess weight gain that was 0.48 kg higher each year compared with age-matched control persons who had not been diagnosed with breast cancer. Over 5 years, this represented an additional weight gain of 2 kg (5 lb) among women with breast cancer.
When approached for comment, Bernick agreed with the authors that these results should be interpreted with caution.
She pointed to the self-reporting bias and the fact that only 15% of women responded to the survey. “Perhaps it was only women who had gained weight who found it worthwhile reporting their experience with weight gain after a breast cancer diagnosis,” she suggested.
Even so, there are many reasons why weight gain during treatment for breast cancer presents a problem for women in the United States as well as Australia, Bernik told Medscape Medical News.
“Women undergoing chemotherapy may not have the energy to keep up with exercise regimens and may find eating food comforting,” she pointed out. “Because chemotherapy delivery and the after effects may take up a few days out of every 2 to 3 weeks, women have less time and energy to eat correctly or exercise. Furthermore, women sometimes get steroids while receiving chemotherapy, and this is known to drive up one’s appetite.”
The authors have disclosed no relevant financial relationships.
This article first appeared on Medscape.com.