Evaluation of a 12-week Mediterranean diet-based nutritional and educational programme for breast cancer survivors: impact on BMI, fatigue, dietary adherence, and menopausal symptoms.

Introduction: Breast cancer survivors commonly experience persistent symptoms after treatment. These include weight gain, fatigue, and menopausal symptoms, alongside an increased risk of long-term morbidity, including cardiovascular disease, bone loss and gut microbiome alterations. Maintaining a healthy diet is challenging due to treatment-related metabolic changes, fatigue, and dietary confusion. This research assessed the impact of a 12-week Mediterranean diet-based intervention, incorporating structured frozen meal provision and an online educational programme in breast cancer survivors. Outcomes evaluated included BMI, dietary adherence, fatigue, and menopausal symptoms. Additionally, bone, gut, and cardiovascular health within the context of survivorship was considered. Methods: A pre-post intervention evaluation design was employed. Seventy-two participants were enrolled, with 46 completing the full intervention and post-programme evaluation. The intervention comprised weekly delivery of Mediterranean diet-based frozen meals providing key nutrients. A concurrent online educational programme covered topics related to a bio-psycho-social approach to cancer rehabilitation. Primary and secondary outcomes were assessed pre-and post-intervention, educational programme engagement and adherence to meal provision were also evaluated. Results: Following the intervention, BMI decreased from 26.9 to 26.3 kg/m Discussion: The findings highlight the potential for dietary interventions to address key survivorship concerns.