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Healthy Eating, Mindfulness, Exercise, and Lifestyle in Overweight and Obese Postmenopausal Breast Cancer Survivors (HEELS): A Pilot Study‐Approach, Feasibility, and Acceptability
Author(s) -
Sattler Elisabeth Lilian Pia,
Washington Annette Monique,
Young Henry Nolan,
Cobran Ewan,
Hartzell Diane,
Dunagan Kelli Amanda,
Davis Melissa
Publication year - 2017
Publication title -
the faseb journal
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.709
H-Index - 277
eISSN - 1530-6860
pISSN - 0892-6638
DOI - 10.1096/fasebj.31.1_supplement.640.19
Subject(s) - mindfulness , medicine , overweight , breast cancer , physical therapy , intervention (counseling) , obesity , cancer , weight management , clinical psychology , psychiatry
The objective if this study was to describe the approach, feasibility, and acceptability of implementing a mindful eating intervention in overweight and obese postmenopausal breast cancer survivors. A clinical trial assessed the impact of a mindful eating intervention in overweight and obese post‐menopausal breast cancer survivors on markers of prognosis and survival, including obesity, cardiometabolic, and lifestyle‐related markers, and biomarkers. The study targeted postmenopausal breast cancer survivors in remission aged 50+ years with a BMI of ≥ 25 kg/m 2 and potential participants were recruited through local physician's offices, cancer support centers, and newspaper advertisements in Athens, GA, in 2016. Participants attended 8 weekly 2‐hour Mindful Eating Workshop© group sessions, led by a certified mindfulness instructor. The workshop addressed mindless, stress‐related, or emotional related eating, and disordered eating patterns through mindfulness meditation and group discussion. Data were collected at the University of Georgia Clinical and Translational Research Unit at 2 time points: baseline (weeks 1–2) and follow‐up (weeks 11–12), and included obesity, cardiometabolic, and lifestyle‐related markers, and selected biomarkers. Regarding the feasibility, 19 of the 29 screened individuals were eligible to participate, 13 consented to participate (accrual rate: 68.0%), and 11 completed the study (retention rate: 84.6%). Qualitative data indicated that participants had an overall positive experience with the intervention. Newly gained mindfulness knowledge, skills, and the supportive group environment were particularly appreciated. Suggested modifications included tailoring the intervention specifically towards experiences of breast cancer survivors, changing the format to more frequent, shorter sessions to reinforce mindfulness practices, and integrating nutrition and exercise sessions in the intervention. In conclusion, the mindful eating intervention in overweight and obese postmenopausal breast cancer survivors was feasible and acceptable to the target population. Changed session format and application of materials to breast cancer survivorship could further improve acceptability. Support or Funding Information The study was funded through the University of Georgia Clinical and Translational Research Unit seed grant.