According to Gram Research analysis of a 2026 study, many cancer patients in Lebanon made healthier diet and lifestyle changes after diagnosis. Among 145 patients, 60.0% reported cutting back on sugar and 49.6% ate less red meat. Patients with more favorable diet changes reported better quality of life.
Cancer can change how people eat and live, and a new study from Lebanon looked at how. According to research reviewed by Gram, 145 adults receiving cancer treatment at a hospital in Beirut described their habits before and after diagnosis. Most had cut back on sugar (60.0%) and red meat (49.6%), and 47.6% had improved their smoking habits. However, 34.5% said they had become less physically active. Patients who made healthier food changes, such as eating more fruit and less fast food, tended to report better quality of life. Because the study only looked at one point in time and relied on memory, it cannot prove that these changes caused better well-being. It does, however, point to the need for practical nutrition and lifestyle support during cancer care.
Key Statistics
A 2026 cross-sectional study of 145 cancer patients in Lebanon found that 60.0% had reduced their sugar intake after diagnosis.
In the same 2026 study, 47.6% of cancer patients in Lebanon reported favorable changes in smoking behavior, while 34.5% reported decreased physical activity.
The 2026 Lebanese study reported an average quality-of-life score of 70.48 on the FACT-G questionnaire among 145 adults receiving active cancer treatment.
The Quick Take
- What they studied: The researchers wanted to know how cancer patients remembered changing their eating, smoking, and physical activity habits after their diagnosis, and whether those changes were linked to how well they felt in daily life.
- Who participated: The study included 145 adults who were receiving active cancer treatment at a hospital in Beirut, Lebanon. Most were Lebanese (93.79%) and female (69.7%). Most had no health insurance (84.8%), and 91.0% said treatment created a financial burden.
- Key finding: Many patients reported healthier changes, with 60.0% cutting back on sugar and 49.6% eating less red meat. Patients who made more favorable diet changes reported better quality of life on a standard 0 to 108 scale, with an average score of 70.48.
- What it means for you: Small, realistic diet changes such as eating less sugar and fast food may be linked to better well-being during cancer treatment. Because this study cannot prove cause and effect, anyone undergoing treatment should discuss diet and activity plans with their oncology team or a registered dietitian.
The Research Details
This was a cross-sectional study, which means the researchers collected information from people at one point in time. They worked at Al Zahraa Hospital University Medical Center in Beirut and enrolled adults who were currently receiving cancer treatment.
Participants answered questions about their eating, smoking, and physical activity habits. They were asked to compare their current habits with how they remembered living before their cancer diagnosis. This type of memory-based comparison is called retrospective self-reporting.
To measure quality of life, the team used the Functional Assessment of Cancer Therapy-General (FACT-G), a widely used questionnaire that asks about physical, emotional, social, and functional well-being.
Asking patients about their habits at one point in time is a fast and affordable way to learn what is happening in real clinical settings. It can reveal which behaviors people are changing on their own and which ones they may need help with. However, because the study relies on memory, the answers may not perfectly match what really happened before diagnosis.
The study used a validated quality-of-life questionnaire, which gives its results more credibility. It was published in PLoS One, a peer-reviewed journal. The sample of 145 is reasonable for a single-center study but is not large enough to represent all cancer patients in Lebanon or elsewhere. All information came from a single hospital and from self-reports, so the results should be treated as early evidence rather than definitive proof.
What the Results Show
Many participants said their habits had improved after diagnosis. The most common favorable dietary change was cutting back on sugar, reported by 60.0% of patients. Nearly half (49.6%) said they ate less red meat, and 34.5% said they reduced fast-food consumption.
Smoking was another area of change. About 47.6% of participants reported favorable changes in smoking behavior, which may reflect the strong push many patients receive from their care teams to quit tobacco.
Not all changes were positive. About 34.5% of participants reported that they had become less physically active. This is an important finding, since staying active is often recommended during cancer treatment to help manage fatigue and maintain strength.
The researchers also found that younger age and having a job were linked to making more favorable dietary changes. Age and marital status were linked to changes in tobacco habits. Patients with medical insurance were more likely to report changes in physical activity, though this link was only seen in a simpler analysis.
Patients who reported more favorable dietary changes also tended to have higher quality-of-life scores. Changes in eating fruit, drinking milk, and eating fast food were the specific diet patterns linked to better scores. The average FACT-G total score was 70.48, with a standard deviation of 20.79, which shows that scores varied widely from person to person. These links suggest that diet and well-being may be connected during treatment, although the study cannot show which one influences the other.
Previous research in cancer care has generally found that patients often change their diets after diagnosis and that many want guidance on nutrition. This study adds information from Lebanon, a country where data on cancer lifestyle habits have been limited. Its findings fit with the broader idea that diet, activity, and quality of life are connected, but the study design is not strong enough on its own to confirm this link.
The study had several limitations. It was done at only one hospital, so the results may not apply to other regions or healthcare systems. Because it was cross-sectional, it captured a snapshot in time and cannot show whether diet changes came before or after improvements in quality of life. The information about habits before diagnosis came from memory, which can be inaccurate. The participants were mostly Lebanese and female, and most lacked health insurance, so the results may not represent all cancer patients.
The Bottom Line
Based on this study, patients may benefit from cutting back on sugar, red meat, and fast food, and from keeping up physical activity when possible. Confidence in these specific recommendations is moderate, since they reflect a single observational study. Confidence that cancer patients should receive individualized nutrition support is higher, because many other studies support this approach. Patients should personalize any changes with their medical team.
This research is most relevant to adults receiving cancer treatment, their caregivers, oncology nurses, dietitians, and health policy leaders in Lebanon and similar settings. People who are not undergoing cancer treatment may find the general diet tips useful, but the quality-of-life findings apply specifically to patients in active care. Anyone with special dietary needs, such as those with kidney disease or swallowing problems, should get personal advice before making changes.
Dietary changes like reducing sugar or fast food can be started right away, and some people notice improved energy or mood within a few weeks. Changes in quality of life and physical strength usually take several weeks to months to show up clearly. Because treatment plans and side effects vary widely, results will differ from person to person.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do cancer patients change their diet after being diagnosed?
Many do. In a 2026 study of 145 patients in Lebanon, 60.0% reported eating less sugar and 49.6% reported eating less red meat after diagnosis. The study relied on patient memory, so these figures reflect self-reported changes rather than measured intake.
Does eating healthier during cancer treatment improve quality of life?
A 2026 Lebanese study found that patients with more favorable diet changes, such as eating more fruit and less fast food, tended to report better quality-of-life scores. The study cannot prove cause and effect, so patients should discuss nutrition plans with their care team.
How much physical activity do cancer patients lose during treatment?
In a 2026 study of 145 patients in Lebanon, 34.5% said they had become less physically active after diagnosis. Staying active when possible is often encouraged during treatment, and doctors can suggest safe activity levels based on each patient’s condition.
Why do cancer patients in Lebanon face nutrition challenges?
A 2026 study found that 84.8% of cancer patients in the sample lacked health insurance and 91.0% reported a financial burden from treatment. These financial pressures may limit access to healthy foods and nutrition support, according to research reviewed by Gram.
Want to Apply This Research?
- Log weekly counts of sugary drinks or snacks, servings of red meat, fast-food meals, and daily servings of fruit. Also track the number of days per week you do at least 20 minutes of light physical activity. Review these numbers every seven days to spot trends.
- Set one small, specific goal each week, such as swapping one sugary drink per day for water or herbal tea, or replacing one fast-food meal with a home-cooked option. Use the app to check off completed goals and celebrate progress. Share your log with your care team at appointments.
- Keep a simple monthly summary of your diet, activity, and how you feel using a short quality-of-life check-in. Update your care team if your appetite, energy, or weight changes significantly. Over time, compare your trends to see which changes seem to help you feel better, and adjust with professional guidance.
This article summarizes a single cross-sectional study based on patients’ self-reported memories and cannot establish cause and effect. It is not medical advice. Cancer patients should consult their oncologist, a registered dietitian, or another qualified health professional before making changes to their diet, activity, or supplements.
This research translation is published by Gram Research, the science division of Gram, an AI-powered nutrition tracking app.