Association of dietary habits and physical activity with the severity of fecal incontinence in patients with colorectal cancer after minimally invasive surgery: An exploratory study.

Objective: Fecal incontinence (FI) is a common and distressing long-term complication following minimally invasive surgery (MIS) for colorectal cancer (CRC), yet the role of modifiable lifestyle factors remains unclear. This study examined the associations between dietary habits (red meat, fiber-rich foods, sugar-sweetened beverages, and alcohol), physical activity (PA) duration, and sedentary behavior with FI severity in CRC patients after MIS. Methods: This exploratory cross-sectional study recruited CRC patients attending a university hospital outpatient clinic in Japan. Dietary habits and PA were assessed via self-administered questionnaires; FI severity was measured using the Wexner score. Multiple linear regression models adjusted for age, sex, tumor location, chemotherapy use, laxative use, and postoperative years were fitted for each exposure. Results: A total of 136 patients completed the questionnaire. Participants had a median age of 72 years and 50% were women; 131 (96.3%) reported FI (mean 1.9 ± 0.9 episodes/day). Higher red meat intake (≥ 500 g/week) was associated with lower FI severity ( Conclusions: Red meat intake and sedentary behavior were associated with FI severity. These associations should be interpreted cautiously; longitudinal and interventional studies are warranted to clarify causality.