It is a common misconception that everyone loses weight during cancer treatment. Some people lose weight, but other people actually struggle to avoid weight gain. Yes, it's true, you can gain weight due to cancer treatment.
This is surprising to many people. Weight gain may occur for a number of reasons, including a lack of exercise due to fatigue, hormonal treatments, steroids and pain medications, and eating more than you need as a way to cope at a stressful time.
Regardless of why weight gain happens, it is important to address it. Being overweight is not good for a cancer survivor's health. Weight gain may even decrease the likelihood of survival after diagnosis. Being overweight makes it harder for your body to cope with the stresses of treatment and to heal as well.
If you are gaining a lot of unwanted weight during treatment, talk to your health care team about this. They can help you take care of yourself and limit excess weight gain during treatment. Ask for a referral to a registered dietitian (RD). A dietitian who specializes in nutrition for individuals affected by cancer can help you plan a healthy diet that meets your needs and preferences.
In addition to working with your health care team and a registered dietitian, the following tips can be used to limit excess weight gain during treatment:
- Move when you can. You don’t need fancy equipment, a difficult exercise plan, or a gym membership. Simply taking a walk each day can improve your energy and help prevent excess weight gain during treatment. Be sure to ask your doctor if it's okay before you start exercising.
- Focus on nutritious foods. These include vegetables, fruit, whole grains, and legumes (beans). These foods provide much-needed nutrition to your body during cancer treatment but don't pack a lot of calories.
- Take a drink. Water is essential to keep digestion working well and to help your body process the medications used in cancer treatment. Unless you have a fluid restriction, you should drink at least 8-10 glasses of water per day, and more if your doctor recommends it.
- Eliminate less-nutritious foods. These include anything with a lot of sugar or high-fructose corn syrup (HFCS), added fat, and highly processed items. Avoid soda pop; fruit punches (one 6-ounce serving of 100% fruit juice per day is fine); jams and jellies; sauces and dressings; and any other highly processed food.
- Make dessert an occasional treat. There is nothing wrong with having a sweet treat now and then. "Now and then" means a few times per week, not after every meal.
- Add a handful of frozen fruit, such as blueberries, strawberries, or blackberries, to your cereal or oatmeal.
- Eat high-fiber, whole grain cereals for breakfast or snacks. Fiber keeps you full longer. Chose a cereal with at least 6 grams of fiber per serving.
- Snack on cut up veggies or baby carrots and hummus or bean dip. This low-calorie option is easy to prepare, tastes good, keeps you full between meals, and is healthy.
- Eat bean or lentil soup for lunch. Soups are quick, convenient, low-calorie, and very filling.
- To add fiber and healthful nutrients, try well-rinsed, canned beans. Sprinkle them on salad to add protein and fiber to your meal and squelch "snack attacks."
- Use whole grain pasta and brown rice instead of white pasta and white rice.
- Aim to have three-quarters of your plate covered by vegetables, fruit, and whole grains. These foods are filling and naturally low in calories and fat. The other one-quarter is for lean protein, such as beans, fish, or chicken.
Sources
American Cancer Society: The Complete Guide - Nutrition and Physical Activity. Accessed November 25, 2009. http://www.cancer.org/docroot/PED/content/PED_3_2X_Diet_and_Activity_Factors_That_Affect_Risks.asp
Bray GA, Nielsen SJ, Popkin BM. "Consumption of high-fructose corn syrup in beverages may play a role in the epidemic of obesity." American Journal of Clinical Nutrition 2004 79:537-43.
Oncology Nutrition Dietetic Practice Group. The Clinical Guide to Oncology Nutrition, Second Edition, 2006. (Elliott L, Molseed LL, McCallum PD, Grant B, Eds.). American Dietetic Association: Chicago, IL.
Wharton CM, Hampl JS. "Beverage consumption and risk of obesity among Native Americans in Arizona." Nutrition Reviews 2004 62:153-59.
