Weight loss following nutritional education session among newly diagnosed breast cancer patients

The optimal timing and incorporation of nutritional consultations throughout the cancer journey remain uncertain. Intervening earlier may benefit weight management, prognosis, and long-term outcomes for individuals with breast cancer. This study examined whether nutritional education after diagnosis but before treatment and addressing weight concerns impacted weight change.

Using a quasi-experimental design, we compared the weight change of newly diagnosed breast cancer patients from a clinic that routinely referred patients to a nutrition consultation session with a registered dietitian (intervention) to patients from clinics that did not receive the nutrition consultation (control). Sessions were personalized, covering eating habits, cancer, and self-efficacy. Demographics and anthropometrics (self-reported weight and height) were collected through pre-/post-surveys.

Most participants were non-Hispanic White (82.1%) females (100%) with a mean age of 58.7 years and an initial weight of 166.83 lbs. The intervention group lost significantly more weight (M = -2.2 lbs.) than the control group (M = -0.68 lbs.; t(143) = -2.09, p = 0.039). Participants with higher weight concerns lost more weight than those less concerned (very (M = 2.4 ± 3.2 lbs.) and extremely (4.2 ± 9.8 lbs.)).

Findings suggest that a nutrition consultation before treatment can promote weight loss, which may improve treatment outcomes for breast cancer patients.