title: Weight loss interventions for breast cancer survivors: impact of dietary pattern.
abstract: Body weight management is not emphasized in clinical practice guidelines for breast cancer survivors, reflecting the lack of evidence that weight loss improves prognosis. Even if this situation changes, the optimal design for weight loss interventions is unclear. We conducted a 6-month non-randomized, controlled weight loss intervention in 249 post-menopausal breast cancer survivors. This paper reports effects on two secondary endpoints, change in body weight and composition. Participants were predominantly non-Hispanic whites (89%) with a mean age of 54.9 ± 9.2 years, a mean BMI of 29.0 ± 2.6 kg/m: (2) and an average of 43 ± 5% body fat. Two dietary interventions, low fat or low carbohydrate, were investigated and consisted of a 42 day cycle of menus and recipes. Weight loss counseling and anthropometric assessment were provided at monthly clinic visits. One hundred ninety-two women completed the trial (77% retention). In comparison to the nonintervention control, both intervention arms achieved significant decreases in body weight (12.5%), body fat (27.5%), waist circumference (9.5%), and hip circumference (7.8%) (all p < 0.001) with minimal effects on lean mass (1.3% decrease). Median time to 5 and 10% weight loss was 2 (95% confidence interval = 1 to 3) and 4 (95% confidence interval = 3 to 5) months, respectively, and 23% of participants experienced ≥ 15% weight loss. Loss of body weight and fat mass was rapid and substantial irrespective of dietary approach when a structured program was provided with monthly anthropometric assessment and weight loss counseling.
  
  
  BACKGROUND
  ClinicalTrials.gov NCT01315483.
authors.affiliation: Cancer Prevention Laboratory, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, Colorado, United States of America.
authors.forename: Henry J
authors.initials: HJ
authors.lastname: Thompson
authors.affiliation: Cancer Prevention Laboratory, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, Colorado, United States of America; Rocky Mountain Cancer Centers, Denver, Colorado, United States of America.
authors.forename: Scot M
authors.initials: SM
authors.lastname: Sedlacek
authors.affiliation: Cancer Prevention Laboratory, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, Colorado, United States of America.
authors.forename: Mary C
authors.initials: MC
authors.lastname: Playdon
authors.affiliation: Colorado Biostatistics Consortium, University of Colorado Denver, Colorado, United States of America.
authors.forename: Pamela
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Wolfe
authors.affiliation: Cancer Prevention Laboratory, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, Colorado, United States of America.
authors.forename: John N
authors.initials: JN
authors.lastname: McGinley
authors.affiliation: Rocky Mountain Cancer Centers, Denver, Colorado, United States of America.
authors.forename: Devchand
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Paul
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine, University of Vermont, Burlington, Vermont, United States of America.
authors.forename: Susan G
authors.initials: SG
authors.lastname: Lakoski
mesh_terms: D000273:Adipose Tissue / Q000502:physiology; D001823:Body Composition / Q000502:physiology; D015992:Body Mass Index; D001835:Body Weight / Q000502:physiology*; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000503:physiopathology*; D018752:Diet, Fat-Restricted / Q000379:methods; D005247:Feeding Behavior / Q000502:physiology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D017741:Survivors; D055105:Waist Circumference / Q000502:physiology; D015431:Weight Loss / Q000502:physiology*