The Impact of Multidisciplinary Weight Management on Body Weight and Body Mass Composition in Women with Breast Cancer Post-Adjuvant Chemotherapy: A Retrospective Chart Review

Abstract

<b><i>Introduction:</i></b> Weight gain during chemotherapy for breast cancer is a well-documented adverse effect. The purpose of this study was to investigate how multidisciplinary weight management involving endocrinology, dietitian, and exercise physiology care, in a real-life healthy weight clinic (HWC) would impact body weight and mass composition in breast cancer women post-adjuvant chemotherapy compared to a cohort of non-cancer women who have been matched by age, ethnicity, smoking, and menopausal status. <b><i>Methods:</i></b> Body weight (kg), BMI (kg/m<sup>2</sup>), skeletal muscle mass (SMM %), fat mass (FM %), and waist circumference (cm) were collected at baseline of the first HWC appointment, 3 months after baseline, and 6 months after baseline. A total of 32 women were included, 11 in the breast cancer cohort and 21 in the control cohort, that matched inclusion and exclusion criteria based on a retrospective chart review from 28 July 2017 to 19 July 2021. <b><i>Results:</i></b> By 6 months, the breast cancer women had a mean weight change of −6.99 kg (SD = 3.87, <i>p</i> = 0.003, <i>n</i> = 11) and change in BMI by −2.72 kg/m<sup>2</sup> (SD = 1.62, <i>p</i> = 0.004, <i>n</i> = 11). There was a change in SMM of 1.21% (SD = 0.73, <i>p</i> = 0.005, <i>n</i> = 11), a change in FM of −2.76% (SD = 1.33, <i>p</i> = 0.002, <i>n</i> = 11), and a change in waist circumference of −8.13 cm (SD = 4.21, <i>p</i> = 0.031, <i>n</i> = 3). By 6 months in the breast cancer cohort, there was a larger change in body weight in women who did not have MetS (−8.72 kg, SD = 2.41, <i>n</i> = 6) in comparison to women with MetS (−2.65 kg, SD = 3.75 kg, <i>n</i> = 3) (<i>p</i> = 0.045). <b><i>Conclusion:</i></b> Findings indicate that multidisciplinary weight management has a positive role in early-stage breast cancer survival through improving body weight and mass composition. These results can add to the development of long-term treatment plans for survivors in order to shine a light on ways to reduce risk recurrence and chronic disease mortality.