Study Explores How Weight Loss, Exercise May Reduce Cancer Recurrence

The Breast Cancer Weight Loss (BWEL) trial is investigating whether a weight loss program could help reduce the risk of cancer recurrence in women who are overweight or obese. This large-scale study enrolled 3,180 women with breast cancer, dividing them into two groups. One group participated in a telephone-based coaching program that focused on cutting calories and increasing physical activity, along with receiving health education materials. The other group received only the educational materials. The primary objective is to determine whether the weight loss program lowers the chances of cancer returning, while secondary goals assess whether the program encourages healthier eating and more exercise among breast cancer survivors.

At the 2024 European Society for Medical Oncology (ESMO) Annual Meeting, researchers presented findings from a substudy that tracked exercise habits in 541 participants over time. At the start of the trial, participants in both groups reported little to no physical activity—those in the education-only group exercised for a median of zero minutes per week, while those in the weight loss program managed around 10 minutes. However, after six months, women in the weight loss group increased their weekly exercise by a median of 40 minutes, while the education-only group showed no increase in activity.

The weight loss program also led to a higher percentage of women achieving at least 150 minutes of moderate to vigorous exercise each week, a level known to provide multiple health benefits. Women in this group were also less likely to report being inactive compared to those who only received educational materials.

Overall, participants who met the recommended 150 minutes of physical activity per week tended to lose more weight than those who did not reach that threshold. Researchers believe that this telephone-based intervention successfully motivated participants to increase their physical activity, which could lead to positive outcomes beyond weight loss.

The study’s researchers plan to continue monitoring these participants to see whether the increased physical activity impacts their long-term cancer outcomes, potentially offering valuable insights into how lifestyle changes could influence cancer recurrence in survivors.