Cancer Diagnosis Does Not Improve Dietary Awareness in Survivors

Despite the notion that a cancer diagnosis provides a "teachable moment" for adopting a healthier lifestyle, a recent study found that cancer survivors do not exhibit improved dietary awareness or healthier eating behaviors compared to individuals without cancer. Researchers analyzed data from the Health Information National Trends Survey, which included 6,124 cancer survivors and 35,554 people without cancer, from 2003 to 2022. The study revealed no significant differences in diet-related cancer risk awareness or behaviors between the two groups.

Key Takeaways:

• The study found no significant differences in diet-related cancer risk awareness or behaviors between cancer survivors and individuals without cancer, including consumption of red and processed meat, alcohol, fiber, sugar-sweetened beverages, and fruits and vegetables.
• Approximately 82% of both survivors and those without cancer failed to meet the American Cancer Society recommendations for daily fruit consumption.
• Around 75% of both survivors and those without cancer did not meet the daily vegetable intake guidelines.
• Cancer survivors do not exhibit improved dietary awareness or healthier eating behaviors after diagnosis, contrary to the notion of a "teachable moment."
• Targeted dietary and behavioral interventions are necessary for cancer survivors, and education from providers to survivors is insufficient.
• Hemangi Mavadiya, M.P.H., R.D., and Yunxia Lu, M.D., from the University of California-Irvine, conducted the study and found no significant differences between cancer survivors and individuals without cancer in terms of diet-related cancer risk awareness or behaviors.

Statistics:

• 82% of both cancer survivors and individuals without cancer failed to meet the American Cancer Society recommendations for daily fruit consumption (odds ratio, 0.91; 95% confidence interval, 0.77 to 1.06).
• Approximately 75% of both cancer survivors and individuals without cancer did not meet the daily vegetable intake guidelines (odds ratio, 0.96; 95% confidence interval, 0.83 to 1.11).
• The study analyzed data from 41,678 participants, including 6,124 cancer survivors and 35,554 people without cancer.
• The data were collected from the Health Information National Trends Survey from 2003 to 2022.

Sources:

• Mavadiya, H., & Lu, Y. (2022). Diet-related cancer risk awareness and behaviors in survivors. Public Health Nutrition. doi: [10.1017/S136898002200052X]
• Health Information National Trends Survey (2003-2022).