Obesity, Cancer, and Weight Loss Surgery

Monday, 31 August 2009 10:11

Cancer is one of the most serious co-morbidities (an accompanying illness to a larger health problem) that can come with obesity. As alarming as it may be, obesity raises the risk of developing cancer as much as 25-33%. The types of cancer that have been linked to obesity include breast (post-menopausal), colon, endometrial, esophageal, kidney, thyroid, and prostate.

The risks of men and women contracting cancer while they are obese depends on their age and gender. The National Cancer Institute reports that obese women have a greater risk of gallbladder cancer, most likely because of the high occurrence of gallstones that develop when a person is obese. Additionally, obese men overall have a decreased chance of getting cancer than women.

For both genders, losing weight and increased physical activity can decrease the chance of cancer. The National Cancer Institute reports that physical activity cuts the risk for colon cancer by 50%, even if it is just moderate exercise. Additionally, postmenopausal women experience a 20% reduction in the chance of breast cancer when they walked for 30 minutes a day. However, for overweight and obese men and women, more extreme physical activity is needed in order to begin lowering their chances of cancer.

This weight loss can certainly be achieved by getting weight loss surgery, even though studies have been inconclusive as to the results of the decreased chances of all types of cancer in weight loss surgery patients. However, Health Day reported in July 2009 that a new Swedish study of over 4,000 obese patients, half of whom received weight loss surgery and half who didn't, that women who received weight loss surgery had decreased their chance of cancer by over 40%. This same effect was not seen in men. More research is needed to determine why men did not experience the same decrease.

Most experts agree that although studies have shown that the cancer of getting cancer may decrease with extreme weight loss, an overall healthier lifestyle may be what is making the biggest impact. It is a well-known fact that people who live and eat healthy (a diet heavy in fruits and vegetables; regular exercise 3-5 times per week) are generally are less prone to diseases and illness, including cancer and heart disease. The Obesity Society also claims that scientific trials in animals have shown that subjects of a normal weight have slower cancer development than overweight subjects.

Additionally, being overweight or obese itself isn't necessarily why obesity and cancer are linked. The effects of obesity can increase the odds of cancer in many cases-for example, The Obesity Society reports that frequent gastric reflux experienced by obese persons may lead to esophageal cancer. Other co-morbidities associated with obesity can also increase the risk of other types of cancers, depending on the area of the body.

Overall, the American Cancer Society reports that 51% of all new cancers are linked to obesity in women, and 14% among men. Obesity is also claimed to cause cancer-related death in 28% of cancer cases in women and 13% in men. More research is being done to fully investigate the link between cancer and obesity; but until then, the American Cancer Society recommends striving for (and maintaining) a healthy weight in order to decrease the chance of developing cancer.