Factors associated with weight gain in women after diagnosis of breast cancer

Objective To identify the factors associated with weight gain after diagnos is of breast cancer in a heterogeneous population of women. Design Descriptive cross-sectional study. Subjects 1,116 patients who had been diagnosed with stage I, stage II, or s tage IIIA primary, operable breast cancer within the previous 4 years. Pati ents were recruited during enrollment into a diet intervention trial to red uce risk for breast cancer recurrence. Analysis Demographic data, weight history, and physical activity informatio n obtained by questionnaire and medical information obtained by chart revie w; dietary assessment based on four 24-hour dietary recalls collected by te lephone. Associations between weight change after the diagnosis of breast c ancer and prediction variables were examined using univariate and multiple linear regression analyses. Results Overall, 60% of the subjects reported weight gain, 26% reported wei ght loss, and 14% reported no change in weight after the diagnosis of breas t cancer. The overall mean weight change was a gain of 2.7 kg (6 lb). Facto rs positively and independently associated with weight gain were time since diagnosis of breast cancer, adjuvant chemotherapy, African-American ethnic ity, current energy intake, and postmenopausal status at time of study entr y. Factors inversely and independently associated with weight gain were pre diagnosis body mass index, age at diagnosis, education level, and exercise index score. Applications Higher energy intake and lower level of physical activity are independently associated with increased risk for weight gain after the diag nosis of breast cancer. Strategies to modify these behaviors are likely to influence the long-term pattern of weight change.