Abstract
OBJECTIVE: To examine differences in weight change and Body Mass Index (BMI) at 12 months among women in remission from endometrial cancer who enrolled in a behavioral weight loss (BWL) program and a matched patient control group. METHODS: Women (n = 22) were enrolled into the BWL program and were compared against a control group (n = 28) that accounted for age, BMI, cancer type, cancer stage, and treatment dates. The BWL program included weekly health coaching meetings that targeted nutrition, activity, and behavior change topics. RESULTS: Women enrolled in the BWL program completed 28.3 ± 14.1 appointments over 12 months resulting in an average weight change of -14.2 ± 7.8 kg (-13.3 ± 7.4%) at 6 months and -16.4 ± 12.5 kg (-15.3 ± 11.4%) at 12 months (all p < 0.001). Women in the control group had a weight change of -1.7 ± 8.4 kg (-2.3 ± 7.6%) at 12 months which was significantly different than the BWL condition (p < 0.001). BMI was significantly reduced in the BWL group at 6 months (-4.8 ± 4.5, p < 0.001) and 12 months (-5.2 ± 5.9, p < 0.001) and significantly different than in the control group at 12 months (-0.9 ± 3.2, p = 0.007). CONCLUSIONS: The BWL program yielded clinically significant weight loss for endometrial cancer survivors. Future work should include longer follow up periods and include additional behavioral and psychosocial outcomes.