Feasibility of a physical activity intervention for obese, socioculturally diverse endometrial cancer survivors

•A physical activity intervention is feasible for diverse, obese cancer survivors.•Waist circumference declined by over 5 cm in 12 weeks.•There was a clinically meaningful increase in quality of life scores.•Better recruitment strategies are needed to increase intervention reach.

PurposeDetermine the feasibility of a 12-week physical activity intervention for obese, socioculturally diverse endometrial cancer survivors and to evaluate whether the intervention improves physical activity behavior, physical function, waist circumference, and quality of life.MethodsObese endometrial cancer survivors from Bronx, NY were assigned to either a 12-week physical activity intervention of behavioral counseling, physical activity and home-based walking (n = 25), or wait-list control group (n = 15). Mixed-design ANOVA (2 groups × 2 time points) were analyzed to determine differences between the intervention and the control for the Yale Physical Activity Survey, six-minute walk test, 30-second chair stand test, waist circumference, and Functional Assessment of Cancer Therapy-Endometrial questionnaire. Data are presented as mean ± standard deviation.ResultsThe sample was diverse (38% non-Hispanic black, 38% Hispanic, 19% non-Hispanic white). Mean Body Mass Index was 37.3 ± 6.5 kg·m− 2. Although recruitment rate was low (20% of 140 contacted), 15 of 25 participants in the intervention group attended 75–100% of scheduled sessions. Participants reported walking 118 ± 79 min/week at home. There were large effect sizes for the improvements in the six-minute walk test (22 ± 17 m vs. 1 ± 22 m, d = 1.10), waist circumference (− 5.3 ± 5.3 cm vs. 2.6 ± 6.7 cm, d = − 1.32), quality of life (10 ± 12 vs. − 1 ± 11, d = 0.86) and walking self-efficacy (24 ± 30% vs. 1 ± 55%, d = 0.87) compared to the control group.ConclusionsThe intervention appeared feasible in this population. The results show promising effects on several outcomes that should be confirmed in a larger randomized control trial, with more robust recruitment strategies.