Faculty Collaboration Database

The association of stressful life events on weight loss efforts among African American breast cancer survivors. J Cancer Surviv 2022 Jun;16(3):604-613

Date

05/13/2021

Pubmed ID

33977342

Pubmed Central ID

PMC11322957

DOI

10.1007/s11764-021-01054-2

Scopus ID

2-s2.0-85105805769 (requires institutional sign-in at Scopus site)   2 Citations

Abstract

OBJECTIVE: This study examined whether stressful life events were associated with weight loss, central adiposity, and health behavior changes of African American breast cancer survivors (AABCS) participating in a weight loss intervention.

METHODS: We conducted a secondary-data analyses of Moving Forward, a weight loss efficacy trial for AABCS conducted in 2011-2014. Two-hundred forty-six eligible women were randomized to a 6-month interventionist-guided (IG) or self-guided (SG) weight loss intervention. Data was collected on height, weight, self-reported diet, and self-reported physical activity. Stress (e.g., financial, legal, employment, relationships, safety, prejudice) was measured using an abbreviated version of the Crisis in Family Systems (CRISYS) urban life stress measure. Generalized linear models stratified by group examined the degree to which stress was associated with weight loss or changes in central adiposity, physical activity, and diet during the intervention (Months 1-6) or maintenance (Months 7 to 12) phases.

RESULTS: Participants reported a median of 3.0 life stressors (range 0 to 22) mostly relating to relationships, safety concerns, and financial problems. In the IG group during the intervention phase, exposure to life stressors was not associated with weight loss (p = 0.15) or change in central adiposity (p = 0.69), physical activity (p = 0.15), or diet (p = 0.26). We found similar associations for the maintenance phase and in the SG group.

CONCLUSION/IMPLICATIONS: Despite facing stress across a myriad of domains (e.g., relationships, safety, finances), AABCS were successful at initiating and maintaining behaviors to achieve weight loss, reductions in central adiposity, and behavioral changes. Future randomized controlled trials are warranted that include more strategies to address the challenges that AABCS face, to determine whether AABCS in particular might benefit from interventions that address barriers (e.g., stress management) to weight loss. Such strategies are critical for improving quality of life and lowering the risk of cancer recurrence.

Author List

Kwarteng JL, Matthews L, Banerjee A, Sharp LK, Gerber BS, Stolley MR

Authors

Anjishnu Banerjee PhD Associate Professor in the Data Science Institute department at Medical College of Wisconsin
Jamila L. Kwarteng PhD Assistant Professor in the Institute for Health and Equity department at Medical College of Wisconsin
Melinda Stolley PhD Center Associate Director, Professor in the Medicine department at Medical College of Wisconsin

MESH terms used to index this publication - Major topics in bold

Breast Neoplasms
Cancer Survivors
Female
Humans
Neoplasm Recurrence, Local
Obesity
Quality of Life
Weight Loss