Food craving and obesity in survivors of pediatric ALL and lymphoma. (1st January 2016)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Shams-White, Marissa; Kelly, Michael J.; Gilhooly, Cheryl; Liu, Shanshan; Must, Aviva; Parsons, Susan K.; Saltzman, Edward; Zhang, Fang Fang
• Is Part Of: Appetite. Volume 96(2016)
• Page Start: 1
• Page End: 6
• Publication Date: 2016-01-01
• Subjects: Food craving -- Obesity -- Childhood cancer -- Nutrition; Food habits -- Periodicals; Appetite -- Periodicals; Appetite disorders -- Periodicals; Electronic journals; 306.4613
• DOI: 10.1016/j.appet.2015.08.039
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0195-6663

Abstract

Abstract: Cancer treatment can impact the hypothalamic-pituitary region of the developing brain, impairing appetite regulation and causing food craving in children who have survived cancer. We assessed food craving using a modified Food Craving Inventory in 22 survivors of pediatric acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) and lymphoma (median age = 11.7 years) and evaluated its association with treatment exposure and changes in weight status over a one-year period. Mean total craving score was 2.1 (SD = 0.7). Survivors reported significantly higher mean craving score for fast-foods [2.6 (SD = 0.9)] than for sweets [2.1 (SD = 0.8)], carbohydrates [2.0 (SD = 0.6)], and fats [1.8 (SD = 0.7)] (all P values < 0.05). Results from multivariate linear regression indicated that survivors diagnosed at an older age (≥4.5 years) experienced higher frequencies of food craving than those diagnosed at a younger age (<4.5 years) (β = 0.88, 95% CI: 0.42, 1.34). Food craving, however, was not significantly associated with survivors' weight status over 12 months of follow-up. Food craving alone does not appear to explain the obesity risk in this sample of childhood cancer survivors. The role of food craving in shaping eating behavior and obesity risk needs to be further evaluated in a large cohort of childhood cancer survivors. Highlights: Childhood cancer survivors reported highest craving for fast-foods. Childhood cancer survivors diagnosed at an older age reported more food cravings. Food craving was not significantly associated with weight gain over 12 months.