Effect of the Lifestyle, Exercise, and Nutrition (LEAN) Study on Long-Term Weight Loss Maintenance in Women with Breast Cancer
Alexa Lisevick, Brenda Cartmel, Maura Harrigan, Fangyong Li, Tara Sanft, Miklos C. Fogarasi, Melinda L. Irwin, Leah M. Ferrucci
Abstract
Lifestyle interventions among breast cancer survivors with obesity have demonstrated successful short-term weight loss, but data on long-term weight maintenance are limited. We evaluated long-term weight loss maintenance in 100 breast cancer survivors with overweight/obesity in the efficacious six-month Lifestyle, Exercise, and Nutrition (LEAN) Study (intervention = 67; usual care = 33). Measured baseline and six-month weights were available for 92 women. Long-term weight data were obtained from electronic health records. We assessed weight trajectories between study completion (2012–2013) and July 2019 using growth curve analyses. Over up to eight years (mean = 5.9, SD = 1.9) of post-intervention follow-up, both the intervention (n = 60) and usual care (n = 32) groups declined in body weight. Controlling for body weight at study completion, the yearly weight loss rate in the intervention and usual care groups was –0.20 kg (−0.2%/year) (95% CI: 0.06, 0.33, p = 0.004) and −0.32 kg (−0.4%/year) (95% CI: 0.12, 0.53, p = 0.002), respectively; mean weight change did not differ between groups (p = 0.31). It was encouraging that both groups maintained their original intervention period weight loss (6% intervention, 2% usual care) and had modest weight loss during long-term follow-up. Breast cancer survivors in the LEAN Study, regardless of randomization, avoided long-term weight gain following study completion.