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AN INTEGRATED LIFESTYLE PROGRAM ON WEIGHT, FUNCTIONAL CAPACITY, AND EXERCISE SELF-EFFICACY AMONG BREAST CANCER SURVIVORS

Abstract

Reduced functional capacity (FC) and excess body weight predict breast cancer (BC) prognosis, yet many breast cancer survivors (BCS) exhibit diminished FC and/or have overweight/obesity. To improve BC control efforts, interventions targeting improvements in FC alongside reductions in body weight are needed. PURPOSE: To determine the impact of an integrated lifestyle weight loss program on weight, FC, fatigue, and exercise self-efficacy among BCS. METHODS: Data from 15 BCS with overweight or obesity (Age= 55.3±5.7; 100% Female; 93% White, 80% non-Hispanic) who participated in a 13-week group-based behavioral weight loss program were used in this secondary data analysis. Participants were instructed to adhere to a 4:3 intermittent fasting protocol composed of a modified fast (500 kcal) on 3 days/week with ad libitum intake the other 4. Participants were offered a weekly virtual, one-hour group support class with a registered dietician, a weekly one-hour, in-person exercise session with a Cancer Exercise Program trainer, and two additional at-home, virtual sessions prescribed by their trainer. The exercise support aimed to increase participants’ activity by ≥100 min/wk up to a total of 150 min/wk. Assessments were completed at baseline and week 13. FC was assessed via the 6-minute walk test (6MWT) and the ‘Sit-to-Stand’ test (STS), fatigue by the FACIT Fatigue scale, exercise self-efficacy was measured using the BARSE, and weight was calculated via a calibrated scale. Missing data were addressed via listwise deletion. As this study is insufficiently powered for statistical inference, only effect size estimates and confidence intervals (CI) are provided. RESULTS: Across the 13-week intervention, participants exhibited small to moderate improvements in weight (Mean Difference= 4.1kg, d=0.31, 95% CI [-0.4-1.0]), self-reported fatigue (d=0.42, 95% CI [-0.3-1.1]), and exercise self-efficacy (d=0.36, 95% CI [-1.1-0.4]. Moderate to large improvements were observed on the 6MWT (d=0.81, 95% CI [-1.6-0.0] and the STS (d=0.75, 95% CI [-1.5-0.0]. CONCLUSION: The integrated lifestyle weight loss program reduced body weight and improved FC, exercise self-efficacy and fatigue. These findings underscore the integrated program's preliminary efficacy in improving key health indicators relevant to BC survivorship. Financial Support: This work was supported by grants from the National Institutes of Health: R01 CA258766, K01 HL145023, K01 HL 161417, K99 CA287061, T32 DK120521, the contents do not represent the views of the United States Government. CHRONO-EXERCISE CONSOLIDATES SLEEP K. Pitha, H. Chargui, B. Bruch, S. Negaard, M. Engelke, B. Roberts, E.E. Schmitt University of Wyoming, Laramie, Wyoming Circadian rhythms are the biological process that helps to regulate the sleep-wake cycle. These rhythms are regulated by the suprachiasmatic nucleus (SCN) located in the anterior hypothalamus in the brain. Disrupted circadian rhythms can lead to sleep disturbances and poor sleep habits over time. PURPOSE: The purpose of this study is to use exercise as a method of re-entraining circadian rhythms in mice through forced treadmill running and sleep analysis. METHODS: This work was approved by the University of Wyoming IACUC. In this study we took male (n=8) and female mice (n=4) and studied their sleep rhythm during exercise entrainment. The sleep system was non-invasive and continuously monitored the mice for seven days pre-exercise and seven days during exercise. The exercise training protocol mimicked ACSM guidelines for moderate intensity and was as follows: Days 1 – 7 warm –up at 8m/min for 5 minutes then 13 m/min for 35 minutes. Exercise occurred 30 minutes after lights off for males and females. RESULTS: Male mice had more consolidated sleep with early active period exercise as shown through increased bout length, total sleep, dark period sleep, and the decreased number of bouts. Late active period exercise was also done with male mice and results showed that the total bout length and day sleep decreased suggesting that exercise at this time does not carry the same benefits as early exercise. Females respond differently than males in most instances but responded similarly to early chrono-exercise with an increase in sleep and sleep duration. CONCLUSION: Exercise is a viable and cost-effective method to help with sleep. It is a natural way to regulate the circadian rhythm, promoting deeper and more restful sleep. Continuation of this work will shed light to the neural mechanisms underlying how sleep is consolidated in exercised entrained mice. This work was supported by NIH Grant 2P20GM12131006

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