Obesity Research Today is a free monthly online journal that collates and summarizes the latest research about Obesity, including details on health, diet, prevention, exercise.

A randomized controlled trial of weight reduction as a treatment for breast cancer-related lymphedema.

Shaw C, Mortimer P, Judd PA

Department of Nutrition and Dietetics, Royal Marsden National Health Service Foundation Trust, London, United Kingdom. clare.shaw@rhs.uk

BACKGROUND: Obesity is considered a risk factor for the development of breast cancer-related lymphedema of the arm and as a poor prognostic factor in response to lymphedema treatment. The objective of this study was to examine weight reduction as a treatment for breast cancer-related lymphedema. METHODS: Twenty-one women with breast cancer-related lymphedema were randomized either to receive dietary advice for weight reduction or to receive a booklet on general healthy eating. They were monitored for 12 weeks. RESULTS: The primary outcome measure was arm volume at 12 weeks. The results indicated a significant reduction in swollen arm volume at the end of the 12-week period (P = .003) in the intervention weight-reduction group. There was a significant reduction in body weight (P = .02) and body mass index (P = .016) in the weight-reduction group at the end of the 12-week study period. CONCLUSIONS: Weight loss achieved by dietary advice to reduce energy intake can reduce breast cancer-related lymphedema significantly.

Published 9 October 2007 in Cancer, 110(8): 1868-74.
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