There is strong evidence that maintaining a healthy weight is very important for all, including those affected by cancer. It is important to seek help from a health professional if you have concerns about your weight.  

Carrying excess weight  

Being overweight appears to increase the risk of treatment complications in those with cancer. It may also lower the effectiveness of treatment, raise the chance of the disease progressing or returning and reduce overall survival rates, in some cancers.  

Certain types of cancer treatments can lead to weight gain. Also stress, fatigue and pain may reduce your physical activity and also encourage comfort eating.  

At times of crisis it can be hard to change regular eating habits, but even small steps can make a positive difference. Following our guidelines and reducing refined carbohydrates, alcohol and sugar may help to avoid weight gain or encourage loss of excess weight.  

Some helpful tips: 

• Eat at a slower pace than you are used to.
• Reduce snacking.
• Recognise when you are no longer hungry, rather than when your stomach feels full and heavy.
• If you find yourself eating for emotional comfort, explore these emotions in more depth, perhaps with the support of a health professional. Try to find alternative ways to make yourself feel good.
• Use a smaller plate. 
• See yourself as just experimenting with eating differently, rather than being on a diet. This makes making changes easier. 

Carrying too little weight

Weight loss may be due to the disease process or the side effects of treatment, such as lack of appetite, nausea or disrupted digestion. If it results in being underweight or having insufficient nutrition, it may weaken resilience. Emotional distress, lack of motivation or pain may also be a cause of weight loss. 

If you are losing weight you may need to eat extra calories, particularly healthy fats and some protein. Wherever possible eat a combination of these and try to avoid processed and refined foods as these give calories but with very little nutritional value.

Some ideas to provide nourishment and encourage weight gain:

• Include high calorie, healthy foods in every meal such as nuts and seeds, avocado, oily fish, olives, eggs, full fat dairy and coconut products.
• Include nutrient-rich homemade smoothies daily, using coconut or full fat milk, ground nuts and seeds, fruit.
• Add butter or olive oil to cooked vegetables.
• If nausea is reducing your desire to eat, try sipping peppermint, fennel or ginger tea.
• Have high calorie snacks to hand at all times such as olives, avocado dip, hummus, nuts and seeds or full fat dairy or coconut yoghurt.
• If your appetite is reduced, try having small portions more frequently as large plates of food can be off-putting.
• If weight loss persists, seek the advice of a health professional experienced in supporting people with cancer.