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Poor diet quality and adverse eating behaviours in young survivors of childhood cancer
  • +3
  • Catharine Fleming,
  • Alexia Murphy-Alford,
  • Jennifer Cohen,
  • Mike Fleming,
  • Claire Wakefield,
  • Fiona Naumann
Catharine Fleming
Western Sydney University - Campbelltown Campus

Corresponding Author:[email protected]

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Alexia Murphy-Alford
University of Queensland
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Jennifer Cohen
University of New South Wales Faculty of Medicine
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Mike Fleming
Science Division
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Claire Wakefield
University of NSW
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Fiona Naumann
QUT
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Abstract

Background The long-term impact of childhood cancer treatment on dietary intake is likely to be complex and the length of time dietary behaviours are affected after childhood cancer treatment is unknown. Aim The aim of this study was to determine the diet quality in childhood cancer survivors recently off treatment and identify possible contributing factors that may affect diet quality in this population. Methods Participants were 65 parents and/or carers of childhood cancer survivors (CCS) (aged 2-18 years), recently off treatment and 81 age-matched controls. Methods Participants completed two self-administered dietary intake and eating behaviour questionnaires. Study data was explored to determine between group differences, bivariate analysis using Spearman’s correlations was used to determine the relationship between diet quality and identified variables, and hierarchical cluster analysis was completed to characterise specific variables into clusters. Results CCS had a significantly poorer diet quality score than the age-matched controls (t=-2.226, p=0.028). Childhood cancer survivors had significantly higher parent-reported rates of ‘picky eating’ behaviour than the control group (t=0.106 p=0.044). Factors such as picky eating, emotional overeating and Body Mass Index z-score appeared to drive diet quality in survivors. Conclusions A CCS with picky eating behaviours could avoid complete food groups, have strong food preferences/aversions and over- consume high energy foods to maintain their energy intake, possibly affecting diet quality. The outcomes highlighted the need for a tailored intervention aimed at improving healthy eating behaviours in CCS after treatment for cancer.
18 Jan 2021Submission Checks Completed
18 Jan 2021Assigned to Editor
18 Jan 2021Submitted to Pediatric Blood & Cancer
19 Jan 2021Reviewer(s) Assigned
09 Feb 2021Review(s) Completed, Editorial Evaluation Pending
09 Feb 2021Editorial Decision: Revise Major
08 May 2021Submission Checks Completed
08 May 2021Assigned to Editor
08 May 20211st Revision Received
10 May 2021Reviewer(s) Assigned
01 Jun 2021Review(s) Completed, Editorial Evaluation Pending
01 Jun 2021Editorial Decision: Revise Major
28 Aug 2021Submission Checks Completed
28 Aug 2021Assigned to Editor
28 Aug 20212nd Revision Received
28 Aug 2021Reviewer(s) Assigned
13 Sep 2021Review(s) Completed, Editorial Evaluation Pending
14 Sep 2021Editorial Decision: Accept