Background: A high prevalence of obesity has been increasingly recognized in survivors of pediatric ALL. However, longitudinal patterns of weight change during and after treatment, and associated factors, are less well elucidated.
Procedure: In a retrospective cohort of 83 pediatric patients with ALL diagnosed between 1985 and 2010, we examined body mass index (BMI) status at several key time points: diagnosis; end of induction; end of consolidation; every 6 months during maintenance; and yearly for up to 5 years post-treatment.
Results: At diagnosis, 21% were overweight (BMI = 85-94.9th percentile) or obese (BMI ≥ 95th percentile). At the end of treatment and 5 years post-treatment, approximately 40% were overweight or obese. The mean BMI z-score was 0.2 (58th percentile) at diagnosis and increased significantly during induction (Δ = 0.5, P < 0.0001). It increased again during the first 6 months of maintenance (Δ = 0.2, P < 0.01) and did not significantly change over the remainder of maintenance (BMI z-score at the end of treatment = 0.8, 79th percentile) and 5 years post-treatment (BMI z-score = 0.7, 76th percentile). High BMI z-score at diagnosis was associated with an increased risk of being overweight/obese at treatment completion (OR = 2.9, 95% CI: 1.6-5.1). Weight gain during treatment was associated with being overweight/obese 5 years post-treatment (OR = 3.8, 95% CI: 1.1-12.5).
Conclusion: Children with ALL are at risk of becoming overweight/obese early in treatment. Increases in weight are maintained throughout treatment and beyond. Lifestyle interventions are needed targeting weight control early during treatment, particularly for patients overweight/obese at diagnosis and those who experience substantial weight gain during treatment.
Keywords: childhood cancer; obesity; survivors.
© 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.