Weight Gain During Ovarian Cancer Treatment: What to Expect and How to Manage It

Weight changes during cancer treatment vary some people gain weight and others lose it. During ovarian cancer treatment, weight gain can happen and is usually linked to lifestyle and treatment-related factors rather than the chemotherapy drugs themselves. ^[1] Common contributors include fatigue lowering activity, increased intake of carbohydrates or sugary drinks to ease nausea, overeating, steroid-related appetite changes, and treatment-induced menopause affecting metabolism. ^{[2] [3] [4]}

Why Weight Gain Can Happen

• Fatigue reduces daily movement, so you burn fewer calories. ^[2]
• Eating more starches/carbohydrates to settle nausea may increase total calories. ^[2]
• Sugary beverages and juices add unrecognized calories. ^[2]
• Overeating due to stress or appetite increases, sometimes linked to steroid medicines used to prevent nausea or allergic reactions. ^[4]
• Menopause triggered by treatment can slow metabolism and make weight gain more likely. ^[3]

Chemotherapy for ovarian cancer often causes nausea and fatigue, which indirectly contribute to weight gain by limiting activity and shifting food choices. ^[1]

Health Considerations

• Aim to avoid large swings in weight during treatment, as both excessive gain and loss can make recovery harder. ^[5]
• Excess weight can worsen swelling risks after pelvic surgery, where lymphatic changes can lead to leg lymphedema; maintaining a healthy weight is encouraged to reduce that risk. ^{[6] [7]}

Practical Strategies to Manage Weight Gain

Nutrition Basics

• Choose a balanced plate with vegetables, lean proteins, whole grains, and healthy fats to control calories and support recovery. ^[8]
• Control portions serve food on a plate, avoid “grazing,” and watch serving sizes. ^[8]
• Limit sugary drinks and high-calorie snacks, especially when using them to cope with nausea. ^[2]
• Plan gentle, nausea-friendly meals (small, frequent, bland foods) that don’t rely on high-sugar options. ^[5]

Movement and Activity

• Exercise regularly as tolerated, focusing on light-to-moderate activities (walking, gentle strength, stretching) to counter fatigue and support metabolism. ^[3]
• If you have leg swelling after pelvic surgery, ask about compression stockings and lymphedema-prevention exercises; activity plans can be tailored to avoid worsening swelling. ^{[6] [7]}

Medication-Related Tips

• Discuss steroid use (like dexamethasone or prednisone) with your care team if your appetite is surging; sometimes timing or dose adjustments are possible. ^[9]
• Ask for anti‑nausea strategies that don’t push you toward constant carb snacking, such as scheduled antiemetics and nausea-friendly meal plans. ^[1]

Professional Support

• Work with an oncology dietitian for a personalized plan that fits your treatment side effects and goals. ^[10]
• Your clinicians can adjust treatment dosing or add supportive care to reduce side effects that drive weight gain (like severe fatigue or nausea). ^[11]

---

Quick Reference: Causes and What You Can Do

Common Cause	What It Looks Like	What Helps
Fatigue	Less movement, lower calorie burn	Short, regular walks; gentle strength; pacing activities [2] [3]
Carb-heavy eating	Starchy snacks to ease nausea	Balanced small meals; protein with carbs; plan snacks [2] [5]
Sugary drinks	Juices/sodas for energy/nausea	Water, herbal teas, low‑sugar options [2]
Steroid appetite	Strong hunger on steroid days	Portion control, pre‑planned meals, clinician review of dosing [4] [9]
Treatment‑induced menopause	Slower metabolism	Consistent activity, protein intake, dietitian support [3]

---

Key Takeaways

• Weight gain can occur during ovarian cancer treatment, most often due to fatigue, diet changes, steroid effects, and metabolic shifts from menopause. ^{[2] [3] [4]}
• Balanced nutrition and regular, gentle exercise are the safest, most effective ways to prevent or reduce unwanted weight gain during treatment. ^{[8] [3]}
• Oncology dietitians and your care team can personalize strategies, adjust supportive medications, and guide safe activity especially if surgery increased your lymphedema risk. ^{[10] [11] [6] [7]}