Factors associated with weight gain after breast cancer: Results from a community-based survey of Australian women.

PURPOSE

Weight gain after breast cancer is common. The aim of this study was to determine factors associated with weight gain after breast cancer in Australian women.

METHODS

A cross-sectional online survey was conducted between November 2017 and January 2018. Women living in Australia who self-identified as having breast cancer or ductal carcinoma in-situ were eligible. We created stepwise linear and logistic regression models to evaluate predictors for absolute and clinically significant (≥5%) weight gain respectively.

RESULTS

Data from 276 women were analysed. Most were Caucasian and 92% had been diagnosed with Stage 0-III breast cancer. Absolute weight gain was associated with hot flushes, being in the menopausal transition at diagnosis, being less physically active than at diagnosis, lower eating self-efficacy when watching television or using a computer, and higher self-efficacy when anxious or nervous (F-ratio = 3.26, R-adjusted = 0.16, p < .001). Clinically significant weight gain was associated with tamoxifen use (OR 2.7), being less physically active than at diagnosis (OR 3.1), and lower eating self-efficacy when watching television or using a computer (OR 0.82) (Chi-square 64.94, df = 16, p < .001). Weight gain was not associated with chemotherapy, radiotherapy, aromatase inhibitor use, number of lymph nodes removed, or body mass index at diagnosis.

CONCLUSIONS

Interventions to prevent weight gain after breast cancer, particularly aiming to maintain physical activity, should be targeted at women receiving tamoxifen. The role of eating self-efficacy, especially attentive eating, in managing weight after breast cancer should be explored.