Weight and weight control behaviors during long-term endometrial cancer survivorship: Results of the Laparoscopic Approach to Cancer of the Endometrium long-term follow-up study.

BACKGROUND

Overweight or obesity is common in endometrial cancer (EC). This study aimed to examine sociodemographic, clinical, and psychosocial characteristics associated with being discontent with current weight and use of weight control methods among long-term EC survivors.

METHODS

Women diagnosed with early-stage EC who participated in the Laparoscopic Approach to Cancer of the Endometrium (LACE) trial (n = 516) were invited to complete a long-term follow-up survey at least 4.5 years after treatment. Chi-square test and multivariate logistic regression models adjusted for time since surgery were used to determine factors associated with being discontent with current weight.

RESULTS

On average 9 years after surgery, 190/259 (73%) of participants were currently discontent with their weight, and 146 (56%) had used one or more weight loss methods during the past 12 months. Women who were discontent with their weight were more likely to be younger than 70 years (p < 0.000), and used one or more weight loss methods ever or during the past 12 months (p < 0.000). Among the weight loss methods used, exercise (40.1%), meal reductions (52.7%), or fat/sugar reductions (48.5%) were much more commonly reported than fasting (2.6%) or designated weight loss programs (2.3%).

CONCLUSIONS

Our study provides evidence that the majority of long-term EC survivors in this clinical trial population are discontent with their weight and over half continue to use multiple methods to lose weight each year. These data indicate that health professionals and lifestyle educators need to assess weight issues, and develop a tailored plan to address the specific needs of long-term survivors to assist them become content with their weight after treatment for EC.