Change in women's diet and body mass following intensive intervention for early-stage breast cancer.
OBJECTIVE
To determine the effectiveness of an intensive dietary intervention on diet and body mass in women with breast cancer.


METHODS
Randomized clinical trial.


METHODS
172 women aged 20 to 65 years with stage I or II breast cancer.


METHODS
A 15-session, mainly group-based and dietitian-led nutrition education program (NEP) was compared to a mindfulness-based stress reduction clinic program (SRC); or usual supportive care (UC).


METHODS
Dietary fat, complex carbohydrates, fiber, and body mass were measured.


METHODS
In addition to descriptive statistics, analysis of variance was conducted to test for differences according to intervention group.


RESULTS
Of the 157 women with complete dietary data at baseline, 149 had complete data immediately postintervention (at 4 months) and 146 had complete data at 1 year. Women randomized to NEP (n = 50) experienced a large reduction in fat consumption (5.8% of energy as fat) at 4 months and much of this reduction was preserved at 1 year (4.1% of energy) (both P < .0002) vs no change in either SRC (n = 51) or UC (n = 56). A 1.3-kg reduction in body mass was evident at 4 months in the NEP group (P = .003) vs no change in the SRC and UC groups. Women who had higher-than-average expectations of a beneficial effect of the intervention experienced larger changes.


CONCLUSIONS
Dietitians' use of group nutrition interventions appear to be warranted. Increasing their effectiveness and maintaining high levels of adherence may require additional support, including the involvement of significant others, periodic individual meetings, or group booster sessions.
Hebert
J R
JR
Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, University of South Carolina School of Public Health, 800 Sumter St, Columbia, SC 29208, USA.
Ebbeling
C B
CB
Olendzki
B C
BC
Hurley
T G
TG
Ma
Y
Y
Saal
N
N
Ockene
J K
JK
Clemow
L
L
D000328:Adult; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D015992:Body Mass Index; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000178:diet therapy*; D004032:Diet; D004040:Dietary Carbohydrates / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D004041:Dietary Fats / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D004043:Dietary Fiber / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D052756:Nutritional Sciences / Q000193:education; D010349:Patient Compliance / Q000523:psychology; D010353:Patient Education as Topic; D013312:Stress, Physiological / Q000517:prevention & control
D004040:Dietary Carbohydrates; D004041:Dietary Fats; D004043:Dietary Fiber