Close Guideline-followers had better survival than loose followers among people with an obesity-related cancer.
The researchers found that participants who closely followed the Survivor Guideline recommendations had significantly better survival outcomes compared to participants who only followed the Guideline a little.
Specifically, close followers of the guidelines after a cancer diagnosis had:
- A 24% lower risk of dying from any cause.
- A 33% lower risk of dying from heart disease, which is a major cause of death among cancer survivors.
- A 21% lower risk of death from cancer.
If you’ve been diagnosed with an obesity-related cancer, use these study findings to help motivate you to follow the ACS Survivor Guidelines.
Keep working to lose weight after a diagnosis of an obesity-related cancer.
People who are able to avoid obesity are less likely to die. But don’t despair . . .
Everyone can benefit from exercise, regardless of body size.
Physical activity offers the strongest protection from dying of any cause among cancer survivors with a healthy body weight—or those with overweight or obesity.
You’ve got a fresh chance—take it.
Survivors who worked to improve healthy habits after the cancer diagnosis had a lower risk of dying from heart disease even if they hadn’t followed the Guidelines before the cancer diagnosis.
Stick with healthy habits after a cancer diagnosis.
Cancer survivors who followed the Guidelines closely both before and after the cancer diagnosis had a lower risk of dying.
Focus on movement.
The researchers found no overall association between diet score and mortality outcomes.
This study expands the existing evidence that obesity is a significant risk factor for both the incidence and prognosis of cancer.
This was the first large US study to show that following the ACS Nutrition and Physical Activity Guideline for Cancer Survivors is linked to better survival outcomes, especially among those with obesity-related cancers.
The study’s strengths include a large sample size, long follow-up period, and focus on survivors of cancers for which lifestyle plays a particularly important role.
While the study is observational and cannot establish causality, the results offer valuable evidence-based guidance for clinicians, survivors, and caregivers for life-preserving lifestyle choices after a cancer diagnosis.
In summary, this research strongly supports the idea that adopting a healthy lifestyle after cancer matters—and that even small steps toward better diet, activity, and weight management may add meaningful years to the lives of cancer survivors.
Other co-authors of the study from the ACS are: Christina Newton, MSPH; Marjorie McCullough, ScD, RD; Lauren Teras, PhD; Clara Bodelon, PhD, MS; Erika Rees-Punia, PhD, MPH; Carolyn Um, PhD, MPH, RD; and Senior Vice President of Cancer Prevention Laura Makaroff, DO.
