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Nutrition And Exercise Guidelines For Cancer Survivors

Nutrition and Exercise Guidelines

New research finds many cancer survivors areobese and not physically active, which could make it harder to keep their cancer under control.

Researchers in Canada analyzed data from more than 114,000 adults. They found fewer than 22 percent of Canadian cancer survivors werephysically active — the lowest rates were in men and women who had survived colorectal cancerand women who survived melanoma and breast cancer. Results also show nearly one in five cancer survivors was obese, and one in three wasoverweight.

Fewer than 22% of the cancer survivors were physically active, over 18% were obese (body mass index [BMI] ≥ 30 kg/m2), and another 34% were overweight (BMI 25–30 kg/m2  ).

In the light of the above findings, WF team of health experts bring you information related to help cancer survivors and their families make informed choices related to nutrition and physical activity.

For survivors at risk for unintentional weight loss, including those who are already malnourished or those who receive directed treatment to the gastrointestinal tract, it is crucial to maintain energy balance or prevent weight loss. Most cancer therapies, including surgery, radiation, and chemotherapy, can significantly affect nutritional needs, eating habits, and digestion.

Individualized nutritional therapies may include:

Physical Activity

Persons receiving chemotherapy and radiation therapy who are already on an exercise program may need temporarily to exercise at a lowerintensity and progress at a slower pace, but the principal goal should be to maintain activity as much as possible. Resistance exercise may improve bone strength and decrease risk forosteoporosis, and stretching exercise may improve range of motion in cancer survivors with lymph edema. In general, exercise programs may reduce anxiety and depression, improve mood, boost self-esteem, and reduce fatigue.

Physically active” is defined as the equivalent of one hour of walking a day, “moderately active” is equal to 30 minutes a day and “inactive” is less than 30 minutes of walking a day.

“Obese” is defined as having a body mass index, or BMI, of 30 or higher. (BMI is a person’s weight in kilograms divided by their height in meters squared). “Overweight” is defined as having a BMI of 25 or higher.

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