Morbidly obese women with and without endometrial cancer: Are there differences in measured physical fitness, body composition, or hormones?

Abstract Objective Exercise is potentially protective against cancer for obese women. The objectives were to examine differences in activity, body composition, and hormones in overweight/obese women with and without endometrial cancer. Methods Women ≥ 50 years old with a body mass index (BMI) ≥ 25 kg/m2 scheduled for abdominal hysterectomy were enrolled. Demographics, physical activity, and quality of life (QOL) data were collected. Body composition/fitness was evaluated using Air Displacement Plethysmography (BodPod) and a standardized treadmill. Adiponectin, androstenedione, leptin, estradiol, estrone, progesterone, sex hormone binding globulin, insulin and glucose were measured. Results Thirty-eight women enrolled in this pilot study; 22 had endometrial cancer. Mean age was 58.3 years, mean BMI, fat weight and percent body fat were 41.3 kg/m2 , 55 kg and 51% respectively. Fitness levels were poor; 90% of women had peak oxygen uptakes below the 10th percentile of population normals yet 80% still rated their fitness level as equivalent to other women. Women with and without cancer did not differ in age, BMI, co-morbidities, energy expenditures, body composition, hormones or QOL although glucose levels were higher in women with cancer (119.5 vs. 90.7 mg/dl; p = 0.049). Cancer subjects scored worse on every fitness measurement, reaching statistical significance for VO2peak (15.0 vs. 17.9 ml/kg/min; p = 0.033). Current exercisers had a lower BMI (p = 0.039), decreased fat weight (p = 0.024), decreased waist circumference (p = 0.05) and improved vitality compared to non-exercisers. Conclusion Physical fitness levels were abysmal in these morbidly obese subjects and worse for cancer patients. Exercise correlated with improved body composition and vitality.