Effectiveness of diet and physical activity interventions amongst adults attending colorectal and breast cancer screening: a systematic review and meta-analysis

Abstract

Purpose To estimate the effectiveness of tailored physical activity and dietary interventions amongst adults attending colorectal and breast cancer screening. Methods Five literature databases were systematically searched to identify randomised controlled trials (RCTs) of tailored physical activity and/or dietary interventions with follow-up support initiated through colorectal and breast cancer screening programmes. Outcomes included markers of body fatness, physical activity, and dietary intake. Mean differences (MDs) or standardised mean differences (SMDs) with 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were pooled using random effects models. Results Five RCTs met the inclusion criteria encompassing a total of 722 participants. Diet and physical activity interventions led to statistically significant reductions in body mass (MD − 1.6 kg, 95% CI − 2.7 to − 0.39 kg; I2 = 81%; low quality evidence), body mass index (MD − 0.78 kg/m2, 95% CI − 1.1 to − 0.50 kg/m2; I2 = 21%; moderate quality evidence), and waist circumference (MD − 2.9 cm, 95% CI − 3.8 to − 1.91; I2 = 0%; moderate quality evidence), accompanied by an increase in physical activity (SMD 0.31, 95% CI 0.13 to 0.50; I2 = 0%; low quality evidence) and fruit and vegetable intake (SMD 0.33, 95% CI 0.01 to 0.64; I2 = 51%; low quality evidence). Conclusion There is low quality evidence that lifestyle interventions involving follow-up support lead to modest weight loss and increased physical activity and fruit and vegetable intake. Due to the modest intervention effects, low quality of evidence and small number of studies, further rigorously designed RCTs with long-term follow-up of modifiable risk factors and embedded cost–benefit analyses are warranted (PROSPERO ref: CRD42020179960).

An evaluation of the feasibility of implementing the BeWEL lifestyle intervention programme for people at increased risk of colorectal cancer – from research to real life

“…There is an increasing body of research suggesting that cancer screening programmes provide opportunities for lifestyle change programmes. 22 The current work on implementation science was designed to promote the systematic uptake of previously reported research into routine practice. 23 The findings demonstrated that engagement, programme uptake and retention were significantly lower than that obtained from the original BeWEL RCT.…”

“…There is an increasing body of research suggesting that cancer screening programmes provide opportunities for lifestyle change programmes 22 . The current work on implementation science was designed to promote the systematic uptake of previously reported research into routine practice 23 .…”

Lifestyle Behavior Interventions for Preventing Cancer in Adults with Inherited Cancer Syndromes: Systematic Review

“…Relevant peer-reviewed studies published from January 2010 to August 2022 were included, as genetic counseling related to cancer risk only began in the late 1990s, and published studies on behavioral risks in these populations did not begin to appear until the 2010s [ 18 ]. References cited in systematic reviews evaluating lifestyle interventions [ 23 , 31 , 32 ] in other populations were screened for additional articles which might have been overlooked. The website clinicaltrials.gov was also checked for any published protocols or feasibility studies.…”

“…A systematic review [ 22 ] of lifestyle behaviors in patients receiving genetic counselling found that communicating the risk of cancer due to genetic alteration has little impact on lifestyle behaviors such as smoking, diet, or physical activity. However, a review evaluating interventions during colorectal and breast cancer screening found that behavioral interventions can promote increased physical activity and dietary modifications [ 23 ]. The same tendency has been observed in cancer survivors, who are motivated to engage in interventions following treatment; however, these changes are not normally sustained long term [ 24 , 25 ].…”

PARP Inhibition and Beyond in BRCA-Associated Breast Cancer in Women: A State-Of-The-Art Summary of Preclinical Research on Risk Reduction and Clinical Benefits

“…Breast cancer is the most prevalent cancer in women, with a global incidence of 2.3 million cases in 2020. Overall mortality in the same year recorded 685,000 deaths [ 1 ], although prevention, based on mammographic X-ray screening, has been a long-standing effort [ 2 , 3 , 4 , 5 , 6 ]. Patients harboring a germline BRCA1 or BRCA2 mutation suffer from an autosomal dominant genetic disorder in these tumor suppressor genes [ 7 , 8 , 9 , 10 , 11 ].…”