Success of Weight Loss Program in Breast Cancer Patients at One-Year Follow-Up

A recent clinical trial conducted by investigators at Dana-Farber Cancer Institute has demonstrated promising results for weight management in women diagnosed with stage II or III HER2-negative breast cancer. Participants in a targeted remote weight loss intervention experienced an average weight reduction of 4.7% after one year, in stark contrast to the control group, which gained about 1% of their initial body weight. These findings emerge from the comprehensive Breast Cancer Weight Loss (BWEL) trial, a large-scale Phase III study involving nearly 3,200 women across over 637 treatment centers in the U.S. and Canada.

The study aimed to investigate whether post-treatment weight loss could potentially lower the risk of cancer recurrence and improve survival rates. The intervention focused on telephone-based coaching, emphasizing calorie reduction and increased physical activity, tailored to support diverse dietary preferences including vegetarian, vegan, and low-carb options. Recipes ranged from Caribbean to Indian cuisines, with support from commercial partners providing monitoring tools like activity trackers and meal scales.

Results at the 12-month mark revealed that nearly half of the women in the weight loss group achieved a 5% reduction in their baseline weight, with over 22% losing at least 10%. Conversely, only 14.3% of the control group attained a 5% weight loss, and a small fraction (10%) lost 10%. Importantly, it was observed that women in the intervention were less likely to gain significant weight, with fewer gaining more than 5% compared to controls.

The study's findings reinforce the importance of addressing weight management after breast cancer diagnosis, regardless of educational background, socioeconomic status, or treatment types, including those on anti-estrogen therapies. However, some disparities were noted, with less weight loss observed among premenopausal, African American, and Latina participants. Future research aims to optimize these interventions for different demographic groups.

The intervention was designed to be accessible and supportive, utilizing bilingual resources and culturally diverse recipes. The ultimate goal is to determine if sustained weight loss can effectively reduce the risk of recurrence, potentially leading to broader clinical adoption. Efforts are also underway to advocate for insurance coverage of such programs, making them accessible to more patients.

This impactful study underscores the critical role of weight management in breast cancer recovery. As Dr. Jennifer Ligibel from Dana-Farber emphasizes, providing effective support for weight loss post-diagnosis could become a vital component of comprehensive cancer care.

For more details, the full study is published in JAMA Oncology: DOI: 10.1001/jamaoncol.2025.2738.

Source: https://medicalxpress.com/news/2025-08-weight-loss-trial-success-breast.html