Background: We evaluated the pattern as well as the predictive factors of obesity in children with acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) according to body mass index (BMI) changes that occur during anticancer chemotherapy. Methods: We reviewed the medical records of 58 patients who were diagnosed with ALL between 1995 and 2006 at the Department of Pediatrics at Hanyang University Hospital and Dong-A University Hospital. Five relapsed cases were excluded. The heights and weights of 55 children were measured at diagnosis, after induction, after consolidation, before maintenance and at the end of therapy. We analyzed the body mass index (BMI, kg/m²) for each treatment phase and evaluated the BMI differences for patients who received or did not receive cranial radiotherapy. Results: The BMI increased in five children (10.4%) among the 48 children who were not obese at diagnosis. According to the treatment phase, the BMI of study patients significantly increased during induction and during chemotherapy. Even though the BMI also significantly increased according to the treatment phases in the children who underwent cranial radiotherapy, the BMI differences between patients that received or did not receive cranial radiotherapy were not statistically significant. Conclusion: We suggest that the risk for obesity in children with ALL should be considered even during chemotherapy. Physical activities, including physiotherapy, should be encouraged to prevent obesity, particularly during the long-term use of corticosteroids and during hospital admission. (Korean J Hematol 2008;43:77-82.)

Keywords: Body mass index (BMI), Children, Acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL)