Stay on Track: A Pilot Randomized Control Trial on the Feasibility of a Diet and Exercise Intervention in Patients with Breast Cancer Receiving Radiotherapy.
Study Goal
The researchers aimed to determine whether a 12-week combined diet and exercise intervention could improve cardiometabolic health and quality of life in overweight patients with nonmetastatic breast cancer undergoing radiotherapy.
Results Summary
The intervention group showed increased physical activity, preserved quality of life, reduced body mass index and visceral fat, and improved dietary adherence, while the control group experienced reduced quality of life and worsened metabolic markers. Both groups saw decreased overall body mass, but dietary adherence improvements were notably better in the intervention group.
Population
Overweight patients with nonmetastatic breast cancer undergoing whole-breast radiotherapy.
Effective Dosage
Three personal exercise and dietary counseling sessions, plus three text reminders per week.
Duration
12 weeks
Interactions
None mentioned
| Intervention | Direction | Endpoint | Population | Dosage | Impact | Claim # |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Stay on Track exercise and diet intervention | increase | self-reported physical activity | overweight patients with nonmetastatic breast cancer undergoing whole-breast radiotherapy | - | showed an increase | #1 |
Stay on Track exercise and diet intervention | no change | QoL | overweight patients with nonmetastatic breast cancer undergoing whole-breast radiotherapy | - | preserved | #2 |
Stay on Track exercise and diet intervention | decrease | body mass index | overweight patients with nonmetastatic breast cancer undergoing whole-breast radiotherapy | - | a decrease | #3 |
Stay on Track exercise and diet intervention | decrease | visceral fat | overweight patients with nonmetastatic breast cancer undergoing whole-breast radiotherapy | - | a decrease | #4 |
Stay on Track exercise and diet intervention | increase | American Cancer Society/American Institute of Cancer Research dietary adherence | overweight patients with nonmetastatic breast cancer undergoing whole-breast radiotherapy | - | higher | #5 |
diet/exercise information binder (control) | decrease | QoL | overweight patients with nonmetastatic breast cancer undergoing whole-breast radiotherapy | - | had reduced | #6 |
diet/exercise information binder (control) | decrease | anti-inflammatory markers | overweight patients with nonmetastatic breast cancer undergoing whole-breast radiotherapy | - | had reduced | #7 |
diet/exercise information binder (control) | increase | metabolic syndrome markers | overweight patients with nonmetastatic breast cancer undergoing whole-breast radiotherapy | - | had increased | #8 |
Stay on Track exercise and diet intervention | decrease | overall body mass | overweight patients with nonmetastatic breast cancer undergoing whole-breast radiotherapy | - | had decreased | #9 |
diet/exercise information binder (control) | decrease | overall body mass | overweight patients with nonmetastatic breast cancer undergoing whole-breast radiotherapy | - | had decreased | #10 |
Stay on Track exercise and diet intervention | increase | dietary adherence | overweight patients with nonmetastatic breast cancer undergoing whole-breast radiotherapy | - | notable improvements | #11 |
Targeted lifestyle interventions during radiotherapy | decrease | cardiovascular comorbidities | patients with breast cancer | - | could decrease | #12 |
PURPOSE: Among patients with breast cancer undergoing radiotherapy, posttreatment cardiovascular disease and worsened quality of life (QoL) are leading causes of morbidity and mortality. To overcome these negative radiotherapy effects, this prospective, randomized clinical trial pilots a 12-week Stay on Track exercise and diet intervention for overweight patients with nonmetastatic breast cancer undergoing whole-breast radiotherapy. EXPERIMENTAL DESIGN: The intervention group (n = 22) participated in three personal exercise and dietary counseling sessions, and received three text reminders/week to adhere to recommendations. The control group (n = 22) was administered a diet/exercise information binder. All patients received a Fitbit, and at baseline, 3 months, and 6 months, measurements of biomarkers, dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry scans, QoL and physical activity surveys, and food frequency questionnaires were obtained. A satisfaction survey was administered at 3 months. RESULTS: Stay on Track was well received, with high rates of adherence and satisfaction. The intervention group showed an increase in self-reported physical activity and preserved QoL, a decrease in body mass index and visceral fat, and higher American Cancer Society/American Institute of Cancer Research dietary adherence. The control participants had reduced QoL, anti-inflammatory markers, and increased metabolic syndrome markers. Both groups had decreased overall body mass. These changes were within group effects. When comparing the intervention and control groups over time, there were notable improvements in dietary adherence in the intervention group. CONCLUSIONS: Targeted lifestyle interventions during radiotherapy are feasible and could decrease cardiovascular comorbidities in patients with breast cancer. Larger-scale implementation with longer follow-up can better determine interventions that influence cardiometabolic health and QoL. SIGNIFICANCE: This pilot study examines cardiometabolic benefits of a combined diet and exercise intervention for patients with breast cancer undergoing radiotherapy. The intervention included an activity tracker (FitBit) and text message reminders to promote adherence to lifestyle interventions. Large-scale implementation of such programs may improve cardiometabolic outcomes and overall QoL among patients with breast cancer.