[Cancer and nutritional management of overweight and obesity: Practice evaluation]

The aim of this practice evaluation was to assess weight trends during and after a nutritional intervention in cancer patients and survivors.

This retrospective study was conducted between January 2014 and October 2020 in adults with different cancer types managed at the Léon-Bérard Cancer Center, undergoing treatment or during post-treatment follow-up, with a BMI≥25kg/m² and who had at least 3 consultations with a nutrition physician. Nutritional management focused on behavioral, metabolic and nutritional aspects. Anthropometrics measurements, i.e., waist circumference, weight and BMI, were monitored prospectively during the nutritional consultation. The aim of this study was to evaluate the impact of the nutritional intervention on the anthropometrics measurements.

Overall, 247 patients were included in the analysis. The median duration of the nutritional intervention was 7.2months. Between the first and the last nutrition consultation, waist circumference was reduced in 97.2% of the patients, with a median loss of 10cm; weight and BMI were reduced in 85.0% and 83.8% of the patients respectively. Six months after the end of the nutritional intervention, 53.7% of patients had stable or continued reduced weight.

This analysis of practice shows the positive impact of a nutritional intervention during cancer treatments on anthropometric parameters, and maintenance or continued weight loss at distance from the intervention in half of the patients.