Weight gain prior to entry into a weight-loss intervention study among overweight and obese breast cancer survivors

Rebecca L. Sedjo, Tim Byers, Patricia A. Ganz, Graham A. Colditz, Wendy Demark-Wahnefried, Kathleen Y. Wolin, Maria Azrad, Cheryl L. Rock

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

23 Scopus citations

Abstract

Purpose: Changes in cancer therapy, in addition to changes in obesity prevalence, suggest the need for a current assessment of weight gain patterns following breast cancer diagnosis. The aim of this study was to evaluate factors associated with weight gain among breast cancer survivors prior to enrolling into a behavioral weight loss intervention. Methods: Anthropometric measures and data on weight-related factors were collected at baseline on 665 breast cancer survivors. Postdiagnosis weight gain was determined between entry into the trial and previous diagnosis up to 5 years. Multivariate logistic regression analyses were used to evaluate the association between weight gain and influencing factors. Results: The mean weight gain was 4.5 % body weight (standard deviation = 10.6); 44 % of women experienced ≥5 % body weight gain. The risk of weight gain was inversely associated with age (adjusted odds ratio (ORadj) = 0.97, 95 % confidence interval (95 % CI) 0.95-0.99), Hispanic ethnicity (ORadj = 0.30, 95 % CI 0.13-0.68), and overweight (ORadj = 0.11, 95 % CI 0.05-0.23) or obese (ORadj = 0.03, 95 % CI 0.02-0.07) status at diagnosis and positively associated with time elapsed since diagnosis (ORadj = 1.19/year, 95 % CI 1.04-1.36). Women prescribed aromatase inhibitors were 46 % less likely to gain weight compared to women prescribed selective estrogen-receptor modulators (ORadj = 0.54, 95 % CI 0.31-0.93). The risk of weight gain was positively associated with smoking at diagnosis (ORadj = 2.69, 95 % CI 1.12-6.49) although this was attributable to women who subsequently quit smoking. Conclusions: Postdiagnosis weight gain is common and complex and influenced by age, ethnicity, weight, smoking status, time elapsed since diagnosis, and endocrine-modulating therapy. Implications for cancer survivors: Weight gain continues to be a concern following a diagnosis of breast cancer. Factors influencing this weight gain include age, ethnicity, weight, smoking status, time elapsed since diagnosis, and endocrine-modulating therapy. Effective weight management strategies are needed for this population of women.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)410-418
Number of pages9
JournalJournal of Cancer Survivorship
Volume8
Issue number3
DOIs
StatePublished - Sep 2014

Funding

Acknowledgments Funding for the ENERGY trial was provided by the National Cancer Institute (CA148791). This research was also supported by the National Center for Advancing Translational Sciences of the National Institutes of Health (NIH) under award number UL1TR00165 at the University of Alabama at Birmingham and by the NIH/NCATS Colorado CTSI Grant Number UL1 TR001082 at the University of Colorado Denver. Contents are the authors’ sole responsibility and do not necessarily represent official NIH views. The authors would also like to recognize the subjects for their participation and to acknowledge the ENERGY Trial Group.

Keywords

  • Breast cancer survivors
  • Weight gain
  • Women

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Oncology
  • Oncology(nursing)

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