Obesity in leukemia survivors: The familial contribution

A high prevalence of obesity in survivors of acute lymphoblastic leukemia ( ALL) has been described, but genetic and social influence in obesity has no t been analyzed in this group of patients. The authors studied a population of 33 long-term (25 females, 8 males) in first remission who had reached t heir final height. All patients received cranial irradiation as part of the ir central nervous system (CNS)-directed therapy and no patient received gr owth hormone. The body mass index (BMI: weight/height(2)) of patients and t heir biological parents was calculated and submitted to statistical analysi s. Obesity was defined as BMI greater than the 85th centile. No excessive o besity was found among the males at final height. Fifty-six percent of the females were obese. In this group of 14 obese female survivors 59% had obes e mother, but only 14% had obese fathers. The results indicate a significan t maternal predisposition to obesity.