Diet and Physical Activity in Relation to Weight Change among Breast Cancer Patients

Background: This study aimed to provide an overview of lifestyle changes after breast cancer diagnosis andto examine the relationship between dietary and physical activity changes with weight changes in breast cancerpatients. Women with breast carcinomas (n=368) were recruited from eight hospitals and four breast cancersupport groups in peninsular Malaysia. Dietary and physical activity changes were measured from a yearpreceding breast cancer diagnosis to study entry. Mean duration since diagnosis was 4.86±3.46 years. Dietarychanges showed that majority of the respondents had decreased their intake of high fat foods (18.8-65.5%), addedfat foods (28.3-48.9%), low fat foods (46.8-80.7%), red meat (39.7%), pork and poultry (20.1-39.7%) and highsugar foods (42.1-60.9%) but increased their intake of fish (42.7%), fruits and vegetables (62.8%) and wholegrains (28.5%). Intake of other food groups remained unchanged. Only a small percentage of the women (22.6%)had increased their physical activity since diagnosis where most of them (16.0%) had increased recreationalactivities. Age at diagnosis (β= -0.20, p= 0.001), and change in whole grain (β= -0.15, p= 0.003) and fish intakes(β= 0.13, p= 0.013) were associated with weight changes after breast cancer diagnosis. In summary, the majorityof the women with breast cancer had changed their diets to a healthier one. However, many did not increasetheir physical activity levels which could improve their health and lower risk of breast cancer recurrence.