Improving lifestyle behaviors during chemotherapy for breast cancer: The Lifestyle, Exercise, and Nutrition Early After Diagnosis (LEANer) Trial

Abstract

Background: Little is known about improving physical activity (PA) and diet during and after chemotherapy for breast cancer. This secondary analysis examines changes in PA and diet quality during a yearlong intervention for patients with breast cancer undergoing chemotherapy and evaluates factors associated with these changes. Methods: Newly diagnosed patients with breast cancer (N = 173) undergoing chemotherapy were randomized to a year-long nutrition and exercise intervention (n = 87) or usual care (UC, n = 86). Mixed models compared 1-year changes in PA and diet quality via the Healthy Eating Index (HEI)-2015 by study arm. Among the intervention group, baseline factors associated with change in PA and diet were assessed with multivariable linear and logistic regression. Results: At 1 year, compared with UC, the intervention arm increased PA more (mean difference = 136.1 minutes/week; 95% CI, 90.2–182.0), participated in more strength training (56% vs. 15%; p