Breast cancer survivors can lose weight through modest lifestyle changes

the Oncology Nurse Advisor take:

Female breast cancer survivors may be able to lose weight through modest lifestyle changes, according to a recent study presented at the American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) 2015 meeting in Chicago.

Tim Byers, MD, MPH, of the University of Colorado Cancer Center and fellow researchers looked at 700 women at four sites around the U.S. for two years as part of a randomized control trial in which half of the participants underwent lifestyle interventions.

“The goal was to lose seven percent of their body weight and maintain it for two years,” said study collaborator Rebecca Sedjo, PhD. The women in the intervention group attended motivational meetings which focused on increasing physical activity and decreasing caloric intake.

Within the first 12 months, average weight loss among the participants in the intervention group was six percent of total body weight.

“This is a significant finding because it shows that women are able to lose weight after breast cancer treatment and this may lead to reduced risk of recurrence,” said Dr. Byers.