Characteristics and determinants of adiposity in pediatric cancer survivors.
BACKGROUND
Adiposity and the diseases associated with it, including cardiovascular disease, are emerging long-term complications of pediatric cancer survivors. Direct evaluations of adiposity and comparisons to contemporary controls that can differentiate recent trends in obesity from cancer-related treatments and sequelae are limited.


METHODS
We evaluated demographic, treatment, lifestyle, and endocrine factors at the time of dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry testing in 170 non-Hispanic white survivors and 71 sibling controls, and compared three measures of adiposity [body mass index (BMI), total body fat, and trunk fat]. For the survivors alone, we determined factors independently associated with BMI and body fat.


RESULTS
Survivors were at 12 years since diagnosis; 58% had leukemia or lymphoma. BMI did not differ between groups. Among males, body fat was greater in survivors than in controls (25.8% versus 20.7%; P = 0.007), as was trunk fat (26.7% versus 21.3%; P = 0.008). Total or trunk fat did not differ among females. Cholesterol, triglycerides, low-density lipoprotein cholesterol, and television viewing hours were higher among male survivors than in controls. Independent factors associated with higher BMI and total and trunk fat included any cranial radiation and television viewing hours, whereas prior treatment with cyclophosphamide was associated with lower BMI and body fat measures.


CONCLUSIONS
Compared with siblings, male survivors have greater body fat and metabolic risks. Cranial irradiation and television hours are important risk factors for adiposity in pediatric cancer survivors.


CONCLUSIONS
Pediatric cancer survivors should be carefully monitored for cardiovascular risk factors and sedentary lifestyles.
Miller
Tracie L
TL
Batchelor Children's Research Institute, Division of Pediatric Clinical Research, Department of Pediatrics (D820), Miller School of Medicine, University of Miami, Miami, FL 33101, USA. tracie.miller@miami.edu
Lipsitz
Stuart R
SR
Lopez-Mitnik
Gabriela
G
Hinkle
Andrea S
AS
Constine
Louis S
LS
Adams
M Jacob
MJ
French
Carol
C
Proukou
Cynthia
C
Rovitelli
Amy
A
Lipshultz
Steven E
SE
D000273:Adipose Tissue; D050154:Adiposity; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D015992:Body Mass Index; D002318:Cardiovascular Diseases / Q000209:etiology*; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D002648:Child; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000150:complications*; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012307:Risk Factors; D012737:Sex Factors; D035781:Siblings; D017741:Survivors / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D044465:White People; D055815:Young Adult