How to Lose Weight After Cancer Treatment

Maintaining a healthy weight is one of the most important things you can do both to help reduce your chance of developing cancer and to help promote cancer survivorship. It’s not uncommon, however, to gain weight during or after cancer treatment.

Weight gain is often seen in patients going through breast, prostate, and colon cancer treatment. This may be a result of a combination of factors, including disease- or treatment-induced hormonal effects or changes. Even subtle changes, such as a decrease in physical activity, or eating more "comfort" foods to offset side effects like nausea or stress, can result in increased weight gain.

Steps You Can Take

But unwanted weight gain can be managed, and even reversed, by following some simple, healthy eating and activity guidelines:

• Follow a schedule, and don't skip any meals or snacks.
• Fill up on nourishing, naturally low-calorie foods, such as including a fruit/veggie at every meal or snack. The fiber will keep you full and help prevent overeating.
• Adjust your portions by using a smaller plate, which will make a smaller portion look bigger.
• Balance your plate by making at least half of your plate consist of vegetables and fruit, one quarter of your plate should be lean protein, and one quarter whole grains.
• Incorporate moderate exercise.
• Get adequate sleep.