Background: Subtypes of pediatric oncology patients and childhood cancer survivors who are overweight or obese have worse prognosis than their healthy-weighted peers. Several studies have examined weight status in either pediatric patients or survivors with acute leukemia, but few have compared these data across various diagnoses. Objectives: We examined BMI from oncology diagnosis or presentation, through treatment, and into survivorship across the most common cancer types seen in pediatric oncology. Methods: Patients were categorized into three oncologic diagnoses: leukemia and lymphoma (n = 69), neural tumors (n = 80), and non-neural solid tumors (n = 80) at yearly intervals over the course of 11 years. To allow for comparisons across age groups, BMI percentiles were calculated with <5th percentile classified as underweight (n = 11), the 5th-84th percentile classified as a healthy weight (n = 129), and above the 85th percentile classified as overweight and obese (n = 87). Results: At presentation, 45.6% of leukemia and lymphoma patients were overweight or obese, and 44.3% of neural tumor patients were overweight or obese. These high obesity rates persisted into survivorship. Compared to the non-neural tumor group, the leukemia and lymphoma group had a significant increase in BMI percentile over time, while the neural tumor group did not. Conclusions: Pediatric patients with leukemia, lymphoma, and neural tumors and who are overweight or obese at presentation continue this trend into survivorship, indicating a need for management of overweight and obesity through lifestyle interventions concurrent with therapy.
Keywords: BMI; pediatric oncology; weight.