Weight gain is common in women during and after breast cancer treatment. In addition to the obvious general health and cosmetic issues, weight gain is associated with increased risk of breast cancer recurrence and lymphedema. Weight gain is most common in women who have undergone chemotherapy, both during treatment and over the following year. The average weight gain over one year is five to eight pounds, though some women gain as much as 25 pounds.
Why does this happen? There are many possible answers to this question. A woman’s weight is affected by multiple factors – diet, medications, exercise and changes in metabolism.
DIET: Some women have food cravings during chemotherapy treatments. Others feel nauseous and can eat only “comfort foods”. For both groups, sweets, breads and pastas are common culprits. Depending on the way they’re prepared and the amount eaten, the fat and calories in these foods tend to add up quickly. In one study, women undergoing chemotherapy increased their dietary fat intake from 22% to 30% of total calories. For women following an 1800-calorie meal plan, this provides an extra 150 calories per day, which may result in up to 15 pounds of weight gain in one year.
EXERCISE: Fatigue, nausea and pain associated with breast cancer treatment often make women feel less inclined to exercise. Most women even cut back on other physical activities, like housework. Interestingly, research shows that exercise actually helps to decrease cancer-related fatigue!
CHANGES IN METABOLISM: Recent studies show that women undergoing chemotherapy treatment show no change in muscle mass, but do have an increase in fat mass. This is particularly troublesome for women who are post-menopausal (either natural or chemo-pause) because menopause tends to bring about a slowing of metabolism. This means that pre-menopausal eating and exercise habits may no longer keep off the extra weight as they did in the past.
What can you do about it? Studies show that increasing the amount of protein in your diet can help increase the effectiveness of an exercise program for reducing weight. Even moderate levels of exercise have been shown to reduce weight and to reduce the risk of breast cancer recurrence. A recent study shows that eating a low-fat diet may reduce the risk of breast cancer recurrence. Another study shows that weight loss is helpful in the treatment of breast cancer-related lymphedema. Turning Point offers both nutrition counseling and exercise program prescriptions tailored to your individual needs