Eating pathology and obesity in women at risk for breast cancer recurrence

Objective: This cross-sectional study investigated the relationship among o besity, depressive symptoms, eating attitudes and behaviors, and dietary in take. It compared women at risk for recurrence of breast cancer and women w ho had not been diagnosed with breast cancer and were recruited from the sa me community and age group (middle-aged and older). Method: Body mass index (BMI) dietary intake, self-reported depressive symptoms, and eating disord er psychopathology (assessed with the Eating Disorder Examination - Questio nnaire [EDE-Q]) were examined in women who had been diagnosed with breast c ancer (n = 56) and the comparison group of women with no breast cancer hist ory (n = 52). Multivariate regression analysis was used to identify factors independently associated with global and subscale EDE-Q scores and BMI. Re sults: BMI and depressive symptoms were significantly and independently ass ociated with global and subscale EDE-Q scores in women at risk for breast c ancer recurrence and rt omen with no breast cancer history. Dietary restric tion was also significantly associated with EDE-Q scores in the group with no breast cancer history. Conclusions: An association among obesity, depres sive symptomatology, and abnormal eating attitudes and behavior may affect response to standard nutritional interventions in women at risk for breast cancer recurrence. (C) 2000 by John Wiley & Sons, Inc.