Nutrition and Physical Activity Intervention in Preventing Excess Weight Gain in Pediatric Patients With Leukemia or Lymphoma Treated With Prednisone and/or Dexamethasone

Overview

This trial studies how well a nutrition and physical activity intervention works in preventing excess weight gain in pediatric patients with leukemia or lymphoma treated with Treated with prednisone and/or dexamethasone. A nutrition and physical activity intervention may help develop healthier eating habits and prevent rapid excess weight gain in pediatric patients with leukemia or lymphoma who are receiving prednisone and/or dexamethasone.

PRIMARY OBJECTIVES: I. To evaluate if a nutrition counseling intervention will prevent an increase in waist circumference from baseline measurements for children/adolescents diagnosed with leukemia or lymphoma and being treated with prednisone and/or dexamethasone. SECONDARY OBJECTIVES: I. To conduct qualitative research on diet habits, likeability of low-fat and-low sucrose foods. II. To conduct qualitative research on exercise habits and willingness to engage in moderate walking. III. To assess receptivity to electronic dietary and physical activity (PA) interventions in pediatric cancer patients and survivors (PCPSs) and their parents. IV. To determine if nutrition interventions will prevent an increase in body mass index (BMI) from baseline measurements for children/adolescents diagnosed with leukemia or lymphoma and being treated with prednisone and/or dexamethasone. V. To determine if a nutrition counseling intervention will help maintain or decrease triglyceride and cholesterol levels, prevent abnormal values of hemoglobin A1C and improve absolute lymphocyte counts (ALC) from baseline measurements for pediatric leukemia or lymphoma patients, receiving prednisone and/or dexamethasone therapy. VI. To evaluate caloric intake, nutritional parameters and oxidative stress in pediatric leukemia or lymphoma patients receiving prednisone and/or dexamethasone therapy. VII. To evaluate responses to various energy balance interventions. OUTLINE: Patients are randomized to 1 of 2 arms. ARM I: Patients attend 13 nutrition counseling sessions over 45 minutes each for 1 year. Patients may receive nutrition handouts. ARM II: Patients attend 2 tasting sessions for low-fat and low-sugar recipes and complete 2 PA sessions over 1 hour for each session.