Response to an exercise intervention after endometrial cancer: Differences between obese and non-obese survivors

• Obese survivors were less active at baseline, and had lower fitness, higher systolic blood pressure, and poorer quality of life.
• A 6-month exercise program for endometrial cancer survivors improved their quality of life.
• Changes in quality of life during the program did not differ by obesity status.

ObjectiveThe objective of this paper is to describe baseline differences between obese and non-obese endometrial cancer survivor in anthropometrics, exercise behavior, fitness, heart rate and blood pressure, and quality of life, and to analyze whether the effect of a home-based exercise intervention on these outcomes differed for obese and non-obese participants.MethodsOne hundred post-treatment Stage I–IIIa endometrial cancer survivors participated in a single arm 6 month study in which they received a home-based exercise intervention. Cardiorespiratory fitness, anthropometrics, and exercise behavior were measured every two months, and quality of life (QOL) and psychological distress were measured at baseline and 6 months.ResultsAdjusting for potential confounders, at baseline obese survivors had poorer cardiorespiratory fitness (p = .002), higher systolic blood pressure (p = .018), and lower physical functioning (p < .001) and ratings of general health (p = .002), and more pain (p = .037) and somatization (.002). Significant improvements were seen in exercise behavior, resting heart rate, systolic blood pressure, and multiple QOL domains over the course of the intervention. Obese survivors had less improvement in exercise behavior and cardiorespiratory fitness than non-obese survivors, but there were no differences with regard to improvements in QOL and stress.ConclusionsHome based exercise interventions are beneficial to endometrial cancer survivors, including those whose BMI is in the obese range. While obese survivors have lower levels of physical activity and fitness, they experienced similar activity, fitness, quality of life and mental health benefits. Exercise should be encouraged in endometrial cancer survivors, including those who are obese.