This systematic review and meta-analysis examined body composition changes in children and young people aged 0 to 21 years with acute lymphoblastic leukemia. The researchers combined data from 13 studies that included patients during or after their treatment for this type of cancer. They compared these patients to control groups to see how their body fat and muscle mass changed over time.
The main results showed that fat mass increased early in treatment and remained above reference levels at follow-up. At the same time, fat-free mass, which represents muscle, declined during therapy and only partially recovered by the end of the follow-up period. Body mass index was also found to be elevated in this group.
The study authors note that the results are limited by substantial heterogeneity, meaning there was significant variation in age, assessment timing, and measurement methods across the included studies. Because of these methodological limitations, the findings should be viewed as preliminary. Large, international studies using standardized methods are needed to better define long-term risks and guide clinical care.