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Clinical Trial
. 2016 Aug;24(8):3285-93.
doi: 10.1007/s00520-016-3141-2. Epub 2016 Mar 5.

Impact of a behavioral weight loss intervention on comorbidities in overweight and obese breast cancer survivors

Rebecca L Sedjo  1 , Shirley W Flatt  2 , Tim Byers  3 , Graham A Colditz  4 , Wendy Demark-Wahnefried  5 , Patricia A Ganz  6 , Kathleen Y Wolin  7 , Anthony Elias  3 , Helen Krontiras  5 , Jingxia Liu  4 , Michael Naughton  4 , Bilgé Pakiz  2 , Barbara A Parker  2 , Holly Wyatt  3 , Cheryl L Rock  2
Affiliations
Clinical Trial

Impact of a behavioral weight loss intervention on comorbidities in overweight and obese breast cancer survivors

Rebecca L Sedjo et al. Support Care Cancer. 2016 Aug.

Abstract

Purpose: Comorbid medical conditions are common among breast cancer survivors, contribute to poorer long-term survival and increased overall mortality, and may be ameliorated by weight loss. This secondary analysis evaluated the impact of a weight loss intervention on comorbid medical conditions immediately following an intervention (12 months) and 1-year postintervention (24 months) using data from the Exercise and Nutrition to Enhance Recovery and Good health for You (ENERGY) trial-a phase III trial which was aimed at and successfully promoted weight loss.

Methods: ENERGY randomized 692 overweight/obese women who had completed treatment for early stage breast cancer to either a 1-year group-based behavioral intervention designed to achieve and maintain weight loss or to a less intensive control intervention. Minimal support was provided postintervention. New medical conditions, medical conditions in which non-cancer medications were prescribed, hospitalizations, and emergency room visits, were compared at baseline, year 1, and year 2. Changes over time were analyzed using chi-squared tests, Kaplan-Meier, and logistic regression analyses.

Results: At 12 months, women randomized to the intervention had fewer new medical conditions compared to the control group (19.6 vs. 32.2 %, p < 0.001); however, by 24 months, there was no longer a significant difference. No difference was observed in each of the four conditions for which non-cancer medications were prescribed, hospital visits, or emergency visits at either 12 or 24 months.

Conclusions: These results support a short-term benefit of modest weight loss on the likelihood of comorbid conditions; however, recidivism and weight regain likely explain no benefit at 1-year postintervention follow-up.

Keywords: Breast cancer survivorship; Comorbid conditions; Weight loss.

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Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 2
Changes in any new medical conditions during 24 months of follow-up.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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