Prevalence of obesity in young adults with acute lymphoblastic leukemia

We studied the hormonal pattern of nine patients with acute lymphoblastic leukemia. The patients were treated with standard therapeutic regimens. They were overweight by a mean of 52% at the end of the consolidation treatment, and this persisted after a follow-up of 2 years. The only endocrine alteration observed was a moderate decrease in serum testosterone levels in male patients. The other parameters studied were in the normal range. We conclude that prolonged treatment with high doses of corticosteroids, which have a depressive effect on metabolism, was responsible for the obesity.