Research Report: Weight Loss & Cancer Risk
It’s no secret that our great nation has an issue with obesity—mainly, putting the fork down and walking away from the table! With more than 60% of our population being overweight, something has to change to ensure longevity and our overall quality of life as we age. Illnesses are on the rise, including things like cancer, heart disease, diabetes, and others. Many of these illnesses can be minimized if we took better care of our bodies. Cancer has become a household name these days—with families across the United States feeling its impact. The combination of being overweight or obese with the onset of cancer can be extremely fatal—and quickly. It’s for this reason that researchers are doing everything they can to figure out how to not only get people to lose weight, but also lower their overall cancer risk.
Disclaimer: This article is for informational purposes only and is not meant to treat or diagnose any condition. It is important to speak with your doctor about your cancer risk and if your current weight may be an issue.
Table of contents
What Increases Your Cancer Risk?
Cancer risk is influenced by a combination of genetic, environmental, and lifestyle factors. While not all cases of cancer can be prevented, there are several factors that can increase your risk of developing cancer. It’s important to note that having one or more risk factors does not guarantee that you will develop cancer, but it does increase the likelihood. Some of the common factors that can increase cancer risk include:
- Tobacco Use: Smoking, chewing tobacco, and exposure to secondhand smoke are significant risk factors for several types of cancer, including lung, mouth, throat, esophagus, and bladder cancer.
- Excessive Alcohol Consumption: Heavy alcohol consumption is associated with an increased risk of cancers, particularly those of the mouth, throat, esophagus, liver, and breast.
- Diet and Nutrition: Poor dietary choices, such as a diet high in processed foods, sugary beverages, and red or processed meats, can contribute to an increased risk of various cancers. A diet rich in fruits, vegetables, and whole grains is associated with a lower cancer risk.
- Obesity: Being overweight or obese is linked to an increased risk of many types of cancer, including breast, colon, rectum, kidney, and pancreatic cancer.
- Physical Inactivity: A sedentary lifestyle and lack of regular physical activity can increase the risk of several cancers.
- Ultraviolet (UV) Radiation: Exposure to UV radiation from the sun and tanning beds can increase the risk of skin cancer, including melanoma.
- Exposure to Environmental Carcinogens: Occupational exposure to certain chemicals, such as asbestos, benzene, and formaldehyde, can increase the risk of cancer. Environmental pollutants, like air and water contaminants, may also contribute to cancer risk.
- Family History and Genetics: Some cancers can be hereditary. If you have a family history of cancer or carry certain genetic mutations (e.g., BRCA1 or BRCA2 for breast and ovarian cancer), your risk may be higher.
- Age: The risk of cancer generally increases with age. Many cancers are more common in older adults.
- Infections: Certain infections, such as human papillomavirus (HPV), hepatitis B and C, and Helicobacter pylori, are associated with an increased risk of specific types of cancer.
- Radiation Exposure: Exposure to ionizing radiation, such as from medical imaging or radiation therapy, can increase the risk of cancer.
- Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT): Long-term use of hormone replacement therapy in postmenopausal women has been associated with an increased risk of breast cancer.
- Personal History of Cancer: If you’ve had cancer in the past, you may be at an increased risk of developing a second primary cancer.
It’s important to understand your individual risk factors and take steps to reduce your risk when possible. This can include making healthier lifestyle choices, getting regular screenings, and discussing your family history and risk factors with your healthcare provider. Early detection and prevention are key in reducing cancer risk and improving outcomes.
Does Your Weight Increase Your Risk of Cancer?
Yes, being overweight or obese is a well-established risk factor for several types of cancer. The excess body weight can increase the likelihood of cancer development for various reasons, including changes in hormone levels, inflammation, and insulin resistance. Some of the cancers associated with obesity include:
- Breast Cancer: Postmenopausal women who are overweight or obese have an increased risk of breast cancer. This may be related to higher levels of estrogen in the body, which can promote the growth of certain breast cancer cells.
- Colorectal Cancer: Obesity is linked to an elevated risk of colorectal (colon and rectal) cancer. The exact mechanisms are not fully understood but may involve insulin resistance and inflammation.
- Endometrial Cancer: The risk of endometrial cancer (cancer of the lining of the uterus) is strongly associated with obesity. Higher levels of estrogen due to excess fat tissue can increase the risk.
- Kidney Cancer: Obesity is a risk factor for kidney cancer. The exact reasons are not clear, but it may be related to the hormonal changes and inflammation associated with obesity.
- Pancreatic Cancer: Some studies suggest that obesity may increase the risk of pancreatic cancer. The reasons are complex and not fully understood.
- Liver Cancer: Obesity is associated with an increased risk of liver cancer, particularly in individuals with non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) or non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH).
- Ovarian Cancer: Obesity may be a risk factor for ovarian cancer, particularly in postmenopausal women.
- Gallbladder Cancer: Obesity is linked to an increased risk of gallbladder cancer, possibly due to the increased prevalence of gallstones in obese individuals.
It’s important to note that while obesity is a risk factor for these and other cancers, not all obese individuals will develop cancer. Other factors, including genetics, lifestyle choices, and environmental exposures, also play a role in cancer development.
Maintaining a healthy weight through a balanced diet and regular physical activity is one of the ways to reduce your risk of obesity-related cancers. Additionally, it’s important to attend regular medical check-ups and screenings as recommended by your healthcare provider to detect cancer at an early and more treatable stage.
Weight Loss and Cancer Study
For this particular study, researchers used 439 women who were considered healthy, overweight, obese, and postmenopausal as their subjects (to get a good mix of subjects). None of these women have/had cancer and were engaged in the study for the span of one year. They split the women into four different groups—one group was to follow a calorie and fat-restricted diet, the second group was asked to engage in aerobic exercise five days a week (45 minutes each session), the third group combined both anaerobic exercise with the diet, and the final group was the control and did nothing. What they were investigating was through weight loss how cancer-promoting proteins were affected in the body and their cancer risk.
Researchers were looking at three particular proteins (VEGF, PAI-1, PEDF) that have been known to increase the development of blood vessels which essentially feed tumors through the process of angiogenesis. What they found was that those women who were engaged in either the diet or the combination of aerobic exercise with the diet lost more weight and had a reduction in the three cancer-promoting proteins when compared to the aerobic exercise only group and the control group.
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