PURPOSE Unfavorable weight change after breast cancer diagnosis increases the risk of mortality, but individual and neighborhood risk factors affecting postdiagnosis weight and body fat changes are unclear among Black women, who have higher rates of obesity and mortality than any other racial/ethnic group. METHODS Adiposity changes during the period approximately 10 months-24 months after diagnosis were evaluated among 785 women diagnosed between 2012 and 2018 and enrolled in the Women's Circle of Health Follow-Up Study, a population-based prospective cohort of Black breast cancer survivors in New Jersey. Multilevel factors for weight and fat mass change (with gain or loss defined as a relative difference of 3% or more, and considering whether changes were intentional or unintentional) were estimated using multivariable polytomous logistic regressions and multilevel models. RESULTS Adiposity gain was prevalent: 28% and 47% gained weight and body fat, respectively, despite a high baseline prevalence of overweight or obesity (86%). Risk factors for fat mass gain included receiving chemotherapy (relative risk ratio: 1.59, 95% CI, 1.08 to 2.33) and residing in neighborhoods with a greater density of fast-food restaurants (relative risk ratio comparing highest with lowest tertile: 2.18, 95% CI, 1.38 to 3.46); findings were similar for weight gain. Only 9% of women had intentional weight loss, and multilevel risk factors differed vastly from unintentional loss. CONCLUSION Both individual and neighborhood factors were associated with adiposity change among Black breast cancer survivors. Residential environment characteristics may offer clinically meaningful information to identify cancer survivors at higher risk for unfavorable weight change and to address barriers to postdiagnosis weight management.
Background: Weight gain after breast cancer diagnosis increases the risk of mortality. African American/Black breast cancer survivors are more likely to have excess body weight than their White counterparts, which may contribute to their higher mortality rate. Emerging evidence suggests that post-diagnosis weight gain may result from multilevel determinants. However, no study has investigated the multilevel characteristics among Black breast cancer survivors. Objective: To evaluate associations between individual-level factors and neighborhood social and built environment factors with weight change after breast cancer diagnosis among Black women. Methods: We evaluated associations of interest among 785 women enrolled in the Women's Circle of Health Follow-Up Study (WCHFS), a longitudinal study of Black breast cancer survivors in New Jersey. Weight change was primarily based on measurements at baseline and follow-up visits (Median: 10.3 and 23.2 mo. since diagnosis, respectively). Participants were grouped into categories of stable weight (52.4%), ≥3% weight loss (20.0%), and ≥3% weight gain (27.6%). Using multivariate- adjusted multinomial logistic regression and multilevel multinomial logistic regression, we evaluated relative risk ratios (RRRs) for associations between multilevel factors and post-diagnosis weight change category. Results: Black breast cancer survivors who were older at diagnosis, had higher household income, post-menopausal status, and higher baseline BMI were less likely to gain weight compared to women with stable weight. Former smoking, higher tumor stage, and chemotherapy were associated with increased relative risk of weight gain (e.g. RRR-chemo: 1.45, 95% CI: 1.01, 2.08). Black women residing in neighborhoods in the highest tertile for density of walkable destinations had a decreased relative risk of post- diagnosis weight gain (e.g. RRR-T3 highest density vs. T1 lowest: 0.39, 95% CI: 0.20, 0.75), while those residing in neighborhoods with higher density of fast food restaurants had increased relative risk of weight gain (RRR-T3 highest density vs. T1 lowest: 1.94, 95% CI: 1.23, 3.05). Conclusion: Both individual and neighborhood factors may influence the risk of weight gain among Black women after breast cancer diagnosis.
scite is a Brooklyn-based organization that helps researchers better discover and understand research articles through Smart Citations–citations that display the context of the citation and describe whether the article provides supporting or contrasting evidence. scite is used by students and researchers from around the world and is funded in part by the National Science Foundation and the National Institute on Drug Abuse of the National Institutes of Health.
customersupport@researchsolutions.com
10624 S. Eastern Ave., Ste. A-614
Henderson, NV 89052, USA
This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.
Copyright © 2025 scite LLC. All rights reserved.
Made with 💙 for researchers
Part of the Research Solutions Family.