Weight loss following nutritional education session among newly diagnosed breast cancer patients.

PURPOSE: The optimal timing and incorporation of nutritional consultations throughout the cancer journey remain uncertain. Intervening earlier may benefit weight management, prognosis, and long-term outcomes for individuals with breast cancer. This study examined whether nutritional education after diagnosis but before treatment and addressing weight concerns impacted weight change.

METHODS

Using a quasi-experimental design, we compared the weight change of newly diagnosed breast cancer patients from a clinic that routinely referred patients to a nutrition consultation session with a registered dietitian (intervention) to patients from clinics that did not receive the nutrition consultation (control). Sessions were personalized, covering eating habits, cancer, and self-efficacy. Demographics and anthropometrics (self-reported weight and height) were collected through pre-/post-surveys.

RESULTS

Most participants were non-Hispanic White (82.1%) females (100%) with a mean age of 58.7 years and an initial weight of 166.83 lbs. The intervention group lost significantly more weight (M = -2.2 lbs.) than the control group (M = -0.68 lbs.; t(143) = -2.09, p = 0.039). Participants with higher weight concerns lost more weight than those less concerned (very (M = 2.4 ± 3.2 lbs.) and extremely (4.2 ± 9.8 lbs.)).

CONCLUSION

Findings suggest that a nutrition consultation before treatment can promote weight loss, which may improve treatment outcomes for breast cancer patients.