PD763 - IMPACT OF MEDITERRANEAN DIET ADHERENCE AND PHYSICAL ACTIVITY ON OBESITY RATES AND QUALITY OF LIFE IN BREAST CANCER PATIENTS UNDERGOING ENDOCRINE THERAPY: AN 18-MONTH PROSPECTIVE STUDY
PD763
IMPACT OF MEDITERRANEAN DIET ADHERENCE AND PHYSICAL ACTIVITY ON OBESITY RATES AND QUALITY OF LIFE IN BREAST CANCER PATIENTS UNDERGOING ENDOCRINE THERAPY: AN 18-MONTH PROSPECTIVE STUDY
A. Ruaro1,*, F. Busin2, M. Baldo3, V. Mosele3, F. Bonamonte3, V. Tronca3, R. Giaretta3, R. De Vivo4, L. Borgato4, M. Padovani5, G. Ceretti5, F. Bassan6, C. Santini6
1Curare a Casa ODV, 2Raggio di Sole ODV, 3Amici del Quinto Piano, 4Oncology, San Bortolo General Hospital, Vicenza, 5Oncology, Vittorio Emanuele II General Hospital, Montecchio Maggiore (VI), 6Oncology, Alto Vicentino General Hospital, Santorso (VI), Italy
Rationale: Integrative oncology increasingly emphasizes the synergy between lifestyle interventions and clinical outcomes. The Nutritional Therapy Service (SeTA) in Vicenza implemented a structured, clinically validated nutritional counseling program to address the metabolic and psychological challenges faced by breast cancer survivors.
Methods: This prospective longitudinal cohort study (N=104) monitored women with breast cancer receiving endocrine therapy (Aromatase Inhibitors or Tamoxifen) over an 18-month follow-up (2023–2025). Assessment tools included the Medilite Score (MD score) for dietary adherence, the IPAQ Questionnaire for physical activity, and anthropometric monitoring (BMI and Waist Circumference - WC). Quality of Life (QoL) was evaluated via a 4-point self-assessment scale.
Results: At the 18-month endpoint (Tf), significant multi-domain improvements were recorded. The prevalence of obesity (BMI > 30 kg/m²) fell from 26% to 17.3%, while mean WC decreased by 3.9 cm (p = 0.032). Dietary patterns shifted significantly toward the Mediterranean model (mean MD score: +2.6 +2.2, p < 0.0001), with marked increases in vegetable/legume (+35%) and fish (+60%) consumption, alongside a 36.5% reduction in ultra-processed foods. The cohort achieving "good/excellent" MD scores nearly doubled (T0: 42.3% vs. Tf: 81.7%). Physical activity increased by a mean of +386 MET min/week (p < 0.0001), significantly raising the percentage of "sufficiently active" subjects. Most notably, patient-reported QoL showed a 54.8% increase in "good/excellent" ratings (p < 0.0001).
Conclusion: The SeTA program effectively mitigates obesity and enhances the quality of life for patients on endocrine therapy. These findings support integrating lifestyle medicine into standard oncology care to optimize long-term survivorship.
Disclosure of Interest: None declared