Cancer Support Community, Research and Training Institute, 520 Walnut Street, Suite 1170, Philadelphia, PA, 19106, USA.
Vector Oncology AI, Concerto Health AI, 501 Boylston Street 10th Floor, Boston, MA, 02116, USA.
Support Care Cancer. 2020 Jan;28(1):329-339. doi: 10.1007/s00520-019-04797-y. Epub 2019 May 2.
Unintentional weight loss (UWL) is a prevalent problem in people with cancer and is associated with poorer psychosocial outcomes. A gap exists in understanding whether and how perceived and/or weight status impacts experiences of UWL. Thus, we sought to examine subjective experiences of UWL in people with cancer, and whether perceived and/or actual weight status impacts these experiences.
Participants were recruited through Cancer Support Community's Cancer Experience Registry® and related networks. Participants completed an online survey that included the FAACT Anorexia-Cachexia subscale, and 19 items that captured six themes related to "beliefs and concerns" (positive beliefs, psychosocial impact, physical impact, cancer outcomes, self-esteem, relationships with others). Perceived weight status (PWS) was assessed using a single item. Body mass index (BMI) was calculated using self-reported weight and height measurements.
Of 326 respondents, 114 reported experiencing UWL. Over one-third misperceived their weight, with 29% perceiving weight status as below their BMI status. UWL in those with perceived weight status of overweight/obese was associated with positive beliefs. However, being underweight by BMI or perceiving oneself as underweight were both associated with greater concerns about weight loss. Perceived weight status of underweight compared to normal or overweight/obese weight status was associated with poorer psychosocial well-being, personal control, self-esteem, and relationships with others.
In people with cancer, perceived weight status, rather than BMI, had greater impact on negative "beliefs and concerns" about UWL. Findings suggest assessment of both perceived and actual BMI to address the impact of UWL on psychosocial wellbeing.
非故意体重减轻（UWL）是癌症患者中普遍存在的问题，与较差的心理社会结局相关。人们对于感知体重和/或实际体重状况是否以及如何影响 UWL 的体验知之甚少。因此，我们试图研究癌症患者对 UWL 的主观体验，以及感知体重和/或实际体重状况是否对这些体验有影响。
通过癌症支持社区的癌症体验登记处（Cancer Experience Registry®）及其相关网络招募参与者。参与者完成了一项在线调查，该调查包括 FAACT 恶病质厌食症量表（Anorexia-Cachexia subscale）和 19 个项目，这些项目涵盖了与“信念和担忧”（积极信念、心理社会影响、身体影响、癌症结局、自尊、与他人的关系）相关的六个主题。感知体重状况（PWS）通过一项单项评估进行评估。体重指数（BMI）通过自我报告的体重和身高测量值计算得出。
在 326 名受访者中，有 114 名报告经历了 UWL。超过三分之一的人对自己的体重存在误解，有 29%的人认为自己的体重状况低于 BMI 状况。超重/肥胖者的 UWL 与积极信念相关。然而，BMI 下体重不足或自我感知体重不足均与对体重减轻的更多担忧相关。与正常体重或超重/肥胖相比，体重不足的感知体重状况与较差的心理社会幸福感、个人控制、自尊和与他人的关系相关。
在癌症患者中，感知体重状况而非 BMI 对 UWL 的负面“信念和担忧”产生了更大的影响。研究结果表明，评估感知和实际 BMI 以解决 UWL 对心理社会幸福感的影响是必要的。
