Exercise and QUality Diet after Leukemia: A Randomized Weight Loss Trial among Adult Survivors of Childhood Leukemia in the Childhood Cancer Survivor Study

Abstract

Abstract Background: Obesity is prevalent in childhood cancer survivors and interacts with cancer treatments to potentiate risk for cardiovascular (CV) death. We tested a remote weight-loss intervention trial that was effective among adults with CV risk factors in a cohort of adult survivors of childhood acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) with overweight/obesity. Methods: In this phase III efficacy trial, survivors of ALL enrolled in the Childhood Cancer Survivor Study with a body mass index ≥25 kg/m2 were randomized to a remotely delivered weight-loss intervention versus self-directed weight loss, stratified by history of cranial radiotherapy. The primary endpoint was the difference in weight loss at 24 months in an intent-to-treat analysis. Analyses were performed using linear mixed-effects models. Results: Among 358 survivors (59% female; median attained age: 37 years; IQR: 33–43 years), the baseline mean (SD) weight was 98.6 kg (24.0) for the intervention group (n = 181) and 94.9 kg (20.3) for controls (n = 177). Adherence to the intervention was poor; 15% of individuals in the intervention group completed 24/30 planned coaching calls. Weight at 24 months was available for 274 (77%) participants. After controlling for cranial radiotherapy, sex, race/ethnicity, and age, the mean (SE) change in weight from baseline to 24 months was −0.4 kg (0.8) for the intervention group and 0.2 kg (0.6) for control participants (P = 0.59). Conclusions: A remote weight-loss intervention that was successful among adults with CV conditions did not result in significant weight loss among adult survivors of childhood ALL. Impact: Future interventions in this population must be tailored to the unique needs of survivors to encourage engagement and adherence. See related In the Spotlight, p. 1147