NUTRITIONAL STATUS AND BODY SELF-PERCEPTION OF WOMEN WITH AND WITHOUT BREAST CANCER

Jéssika Dayane P. Soares, Taynara R. Silva, Karine A. Martins, Larissa V. Gonçalves, Jéssika M. Siqueira, Jordana C. M. Godinho, Ruffo Freitas-Júnior

Faculdade de Nutrição da Universidade Federal de GoiásThe objective of this study was to compare the nutritional status and body self-perception among women with and without breast cancer. Case-control study performed in women with breast cancer attending the Mastology Program of a federal public hospital in Goiânia-Goiás and their age-matched controls. For the nutritional status evaluation, we used standardized anthropometric techniques, which included: body weight (kg), height (m) and body mass index (BMI: Kg / m2). For the body image evaluation, a structured interview was conducted on the body’s perception of weight, so the participants could choose one of the options: “very lean”, “lean”, “a little thin”, “normal”, “I feel fat or very fat”. Pearson’s t-test and chi-square test were used to compare the differences between the groups, using p <0.05. A total of 256 women participated in this study, of which 90 cases and 166 controls, the mean age in both groups was 52.6 ± 11.1 years old. For nutritional status, there was a high prevalence of overweight women (78.89% in the cases and 74.09% in the controls), with no statistical difference (p = 0.38). On the other hand, in relation to body self-image, it was observed that women with breast cancer considered themselves to be more “eutrophic” (BMI> 18.9 and <24.9) compared to controls who perceived themselves as “fat” or “very fat” (BMI ≥ 25,0 kg/m2), however, with no statistical significance (p = 0.54). The high prevalence of overweight among women is a worrying fact and deserves attention regarding the improvement of eating habits, since the complications associated with obesity increase the risk of worse prognosis of breast cancer. In addition, the alteration in the body self-perception is a problematic issue, as it was observed a notable alteration of the body image of many women with breast cancer. This requires a group work by multiprofessional team to improve the quality of life of these patients.nutritional status, body self-perception, overweight, breast cancer.

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