Low-energy reporting in women at risk for breast cancer recurrence

This study examined the extent of low-energy reporting and its relationship with demographic and lifestyle factors in women previously treated for bre ast cancer. This study used data from a large multisite clinical trial testing the effi cacy of a dietary intervention to reduce risk for breast cancer recurrence (Women's Healthy Eating and Living Study). Using the Schofield equation to estimate energy needs and four 24-h dietary recalls to estimate energy inta kes, we identified women who reported lower than expected energy intakes us ing criteria developed by G. R. Goldberg et al, (Eur. J. Clin, Nutr., 45: 5 69-581, 1991), We examined data from 1137 women diagnosed with stage I, stage TI, or stage IIIA primary, operable breast cancer. Women were 18-70 years of age at dia gnosis and were enrolled in the Women's Healthy Eating and Living Study bet ween August 19, 1995, and April 1, 1998, within 4 years after diagnosis. The Goldberg criteria classified about one-quarter (25.6%) as low-energy re porters (LERs) and 10.8% as very LERs, Women who had a body mass index >30 were almost twice (odds ratio, 1.95) as likely to be LERs, Women with a his tory of weight gain or weight fluctuations were one and a half times as lik ely (odds ratio, 1.55) to be LERs as those who were weight stable or weight losers. Age, ethnicity, alcohol intake, supplement use, and exercise level were also related to LER, Characteristics (such as body mass index, age, ethnicity, and weight histor y) that are associated with Low-energy reporting in this group of cancer su rvivors are similar to those observed in other populations and might affect observed diet and breast cancer associations in epidemiological studies.