A Randomized, Controlled, Multicenter Study of Technology-Based Weight Loss Interventions among Endometrial Cancer...

Area of Science:

• Oncology
• Obesity Research
• Digital Health

Background:

• Obesity is a significant risk factor for endometrial cancer (EC).
• Many EC survivors with obesity lack awareness of this link and misclassify their body mass.
• Effective weight management strategies are crucial for this population.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the efficacy of technology-based weight loss interventions for endometrial cancer (EC) survivors with obesity.
• To assess the impact of telemedicine, text messaging, and enhanced usual care (EUC) on anthropometric and psychosocial measures.

Main Methods:

• A randomized controlled trial involving 41 EC survivors with obesity from three medical centers.
• Interventions included telemedicine with Wi-Fi scales, text messaging (texting), or enhanced usual care (EUC) over 6 months.
• Assessments included knowledge of obesity-EC risk, body mass index, and psychosocial factors.

Main Results:

• No significant differences in overall weight loss were observed across the three intervention groups (mean loss = -4.4 kg).
• Telemedicine improved physical health and cancer-related body image compared to texting.
• Telemedicine also improved sexual functioning compared to EUC, while EUC led to greater increases in total and vigorous physical activity.

Conclusions:

• Technology-based lifestyle interventions are accessible for EC survivors with obesity, promoting weight loss and enhancing quality of life.
• Enhanced usual care also demonstrated effectiveness for weight management, highlighting the importance of providing clear diet and exercise goals.
• Both technology-driven and traditional approaches can support weight management in this patient group.