JOURNAL OF THE AMERICAN COLLEGE OF NUTRITION, cilt.41, sa.1, ss.50-56, 2022 (SCI-Expanded)
ABSTRACT
Objective: Obesity has been increasingly recognized in pediatric acute lymphoblastic leukemia
(ALL) survivors. The aim of the current study was to determine the prevelance and related factors
of obesity/abdominal obesity and evaluate the association between nutrition and overweight/
obesity after cancer treatment in pediatric ALL survivors.
Method: An observational retrospective cohort study was performed among 67 volunteers (aged
5–15). Participants completed 3 consecutive days (2 weekdays and 1 weekend day) recording food
consumption and physical activity simultaneously. Weight, height, and waist circumference measurements were performed in remission period, and retrospective data were obtained from patient
records. We examined data at three periods: diagnosis, end of treatment, and remission. Subjects
were classified into four groups according to body mass index for age z score (BAZ): underweight,
normal weight, overweight, and obese. Abdominal obesity was defined waist-to-height ratio
0.5.
Results: Prevalence of overweight, obesity, and abdominal obesity were 25.3%, 23.9%, 38.8%,
respectively in remission. BAZ at diagnosis and at treatment completion, dietary energy intake,
and physical activity were associated with an increased risk of being overweight/obese in remission (p < .05). Gender, age at diagnosis, cranial radiotherapy, and treatment risk category were not
significant (p > .05).
Conclusions: As in obesity, abdominal obesity was found an important problem in pediatric ALL
survivors. Therefore, nutritional targets are needed to prevent obesity. Survivors should be closely
monitored in terms of nutritional status during and after treatment and informed about and supported for healthy lifestyle (balanced and adequate nutrition, increase in physical activity).