Eating pathology and obesity in women at risk for breast cancer recurrence.
OBJECTIVE
This cross-sectional study investigated the relationship among obesity, depressive symptoms, eating attitudes and behaviors, and dietary intake. It compared women at risk for recurrence of breast cancer and women who had not been diagnosed with breast cancer and were recruited from the same community and age group (middle-aged and older).


METHODS
Body mass index (BMI), dietary intake, self-reported depressive symptoms, and eating disorder psychopathology (assessed with the Eating Disorder Examination - Questionnaire [EDE-Q]) were examined in women who had been diagnosed with breast cancer (n = 56) and the comparison group of women with no breast cancer history (n = 52). Multivariate regression analysis was used to identify factors independently associated with global and subscale EDE-Q scores and BMI.


RESULTS
BMI and depressive symptoms were significantly and independently associated with global and subscale EDE-Q scores in women at risk for breast cancer recurrence and women with no breast cancer history. Dietary restriction was also significantly associated with EDE-Q scores in the group with no breast cancer history.


CONCLUSIONS
An association among obesity, depressive symptomatology, and abnormal eating attitudes and behavior may affect response to standard nutritional interventions in women at risk for breast cancer recurrence.
Rock
C L
CL
Department of Family and Preventive Medicine, University of California, San Diego, California 92093-0901, USA. clrock@ucsd.edu
McEligot
A J
AJ
Flatt
S W
SW
Sobo
E J
EJ
Wilfley
D E
DE
Jones
V E
VE
Hollenbach
K A
KA
Marx
R D
RD
D015992:Body Mass Index; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000523:psychology*; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D003863:Depression / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000523:psychology; D002149:Energy Intake; D005240:Feasibility Studies; D001068:Feeding and Eating Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000523:psychology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D009364:Neoplasm Recurrence, Local / Q000523:psychology; D009765:Obesity / Q000523:psychology*; D012307:Risk Factors