A pilot randomized trial suggests that an online program combining diet, walking and mindfulness may be associated with a more favorable long-term pattern of weight change in breast cancer survivors with overweight or obesity, though evidence on differential effects is limited.
What was known
Overweight and obesity are common among breast cancer survivors, and managing weight and body composition is part of supportive care. It was unclear whether adding a mindfulness component to a diet and exercise intervention provides additional benefit.
What this work adds
This is a pilot randomized trial that enrolled women with stage I-III breast cancer and a body mass index >= 24 kg/m2. Participants were randomly assigned to a diet, walking and mindfulness (DWM) group or a diet and walking (DW) group. Both completed an 8-week synchronous online program and were followed for 48 weeks. Primary outcomes were body weight, waist circumference and body fat percentage, assessed at baseline and at weeks 8, 24 and 48; secondary outcomes included self-efficacy, dispositional mindfulness and quality of life. Analysis used generalized estimating equations.
Main results
Forty-two participants were enrolled, 21 per group. Both groups showed reductions in weight, waist circumference and body fat over 12 months. The DWM group showed a more favorable weight-change pattern over time, with a significant overall group x time interaction. For waist circumference and body fat percentage, both groups improved over time, but between-group differences were not consistently supported; exploratory estimates suggested possible differences at week 48. Engagement was similar between groups, and more frequent dietary recording was associated with greater reductions in weight and body fat.
What it means
The results are preliminary and come from a pilot trial with a small sample (42 participants), so they cannot confirm that mindfulness adds a clear benefit. The work supports the feasibility of online interventions and highlights the need for larger trials with longer follow-up and more targeted process measures.
Reference: Lin YF, Lokmic-Tomkins Z, Chang KJ, Hu ML, Feng HC, Cheng CP, et al. Preliminary effects of an online diet, walking, and mindfulness-integrated lifestyle intervention for breast cancer survivors with overweight or obesity: A pilot randomized controlled trial. Asia-Pacific Journal of Oncology Nursing, 2026. DOI.
