Source: The Lancet Oncology. 2008;9:629-635
Authors: Prado CMM et al.

Body composition appears to be of key importance when it comes to surviving
cancer, as researchers have found that cancer patients with more lean muscle
mass live longer.

The study of 250 obese cancer patients revealed that patients with depleted
muscle mass ­ a recently recognized condition known as sarcopenic obesity ­
lived, on average, for 10 months less than obese patients with more muscle
mass. Participants with sarcopenic obesity were also more likely to be
bedridden. Study leader Professor Vickie Baracos says muscle mass could even
effect how patients respond to chemotherapy.

The authors concluded: ³This study provides evidence of the great
variability of body composition in patients with cancer and links body
composition, especially sarcopenic obesity, to clinical implications such as
functional status, survival, and potentially, chemotherapy toxicity.²

Authors:
Prado CMM, Lieffers JR, McCargar LJ, et al.

Source:
“Prevalence and clinical implications of sarcopenic obesity in patients with solid tumours of the respiratory and gastrointestinal tracts: a population-based study”. The Lancet Oncology. 2008;9:629-635.