Maintaining a stable body weight does not reduce the risk of death in people living with colorectal cancer

Those who survived colorectal cancer who maintained a stable body weight but lost muscle and developed fat deposits in their muscles had a 40 percent higher risk of premature death than patients who avoided both health issues.

The prevailing wisdom is that colorectal cancer patients should lose weight or gain weight during treatment. But maintaining your weight does not mean that your body shape remains the same. Muscles can change dramatically, and these changes are associated with a much higher risk of death. “

Dr. Justin C. Brown, Associate Professor and Director of the Cancer Metabolism Program, Pennington Biomedical Research Center

The researchers say that assessing body shape with computed tomography images could be a crucial way to identify patients at greater risk of death.

This study highlights how bodybuilding can have a powerful impact on long-term health. We at Pennington Biomedical are committed to conducting innovative research to enable cancer survivors around the world to achieve optimal health, ”said Dr. John Kirwan, Executive Director.

The study, published in American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, examined 1,921 patients with stage I-III colorectal cancer. Bone weight and body weight were measured at diagnosis and on average 15 months later. Stable body weight was defined as being within plus or minus 5 percent of weight at the time of diagnosis.

The researchers found that stable body weight masks skeletal muscle depression which is clinically significant. Women were particularly at risk from losing muscle. One in five women with persistent body weight lost muscle, and less than one in 10 men did.

“More research is needed to determine if physical activity offers the best solution to prevent muscle loss or fat deposits in muscle,” Dr. Brown said. “But the findings provide more incentive for colorectal cancer patients to engage in physical activity programs that maintain and build muscle.”