5. Conclusions
weight loss diet or dietary advice, breast cancer
BREAST CANCER
This study shows that a twice-weekly training program combining one session of impact-aerobic exercise and one session of resistance exercise improved the body composition in postmenopausal women treated for breast cancer with AIs. After one year, without a concomitant weight loss diet or dietary advice, women in the exercise group showed a decrease in total fat, SAT, VAT, and waist circumference. This low-frequency combined exercise program may be more acceptable, effective, and practical in optimizing aspects of physical fitness than programs that involve a higher frequency. It is suggested that the choice of this low-frequency regimen will be made when the ability of the individual to withstand a vigorous program or the willingness to devote a high weekly training frequency is a constraint. In addition, the dietary habits of our volunteers were characterized by dietary habits compatible with moderate adherence to the Mediterranean diet pattern, but with a low dietary intake of Ca, Zn, Folic Ac, Vit D, A and E, which suggests the need for nutritional counselling. All these issues should be considered when planning future advice programs for breast cancer survivors.