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Investigative Analysis
Are We "Super-Sizing" Our Risk for Cancer?
October 2003
As a nation, America is getting fatter, and those added pounds add up to an increase in the risk for developing cancer. Unfortunately, most Americans are unaware of the link between obesity and cancer, according to a recent survey conducted by the American Institute for Cancer Research (AICR).
While it generally well-known that excess weight increases the risk of heart disease, stroke and type 2 diabetes, fewer people are aware of the strong link between obesity and cancer. In an AICR survey of 1,025 Americans, a great majority identified heart disease (89 percent) and diabetes (86 percent) as conditions associated with being overweight or obese. However, only 25 percent were aware that overweight and obesity increase cancer risk, an alarming statistic when you consider that 64 percent of American adults are overweight or obese, according to the latest figures from the ongoing National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey.
The link between obesity and cancer risk is strong. A recent report by the World Health Organization’s International Agency for Research on Cancer estimates that being overweight and inactive accounts for one-fifth to one-third of all breast, colon, endometrial, kidney and esophageal cancers. That estimate represents between 102,000 and 135,000 cases of cancer in the U.S. alone. Strong evidence also links obesity with higher risks for cancers of the pancreas, uterus, prostate and ovary as well. Researchers predict that the epidemic increase in rates of obesity and overweight will increase cancer rates worldwide 50 percent by the year 2020.
How does excess weight contribute to cancer? No one knows for sure, but researchers do have some plausible theories. According to the AICR website (www.aicr.org), being overweight and inactive can produce a number of hormonal and metabolic changes that create favorable conditions for cancer to begin. New research indicates that fat cells constantly secrete various hormones and growth factors into the bloodstream. In overweight and obese individuals, these hormones and growth factors are secreted in higher amounts, urging cells to grow and divide at an accelerated rate which, in theory, would increase the likelihood of random mutations that can lead to cancer.
While the debate continues over exactly how excess weight contributes to cancer, one thing is clear: managing your weight helps you manage your cancer risk. For overweight individuals, that means exercising more and consuming fewer calories—a simple-sounding formula that many find difficult to follow. To make it easier to reduce your waistline and your cancer risk, AICR recommends following four basic steps:
- Move toward a plant-based diet: By eating more vegetables, fruits, whole grains and legumes, you can reduce the calories and fat you consume. A predominately plant-based diet also supplies an abundance of healthful substances like vitamins, minerals, phytochemicals and fiber.
- Watch your portion sizes: American portion sizes—in restaurants and at home—are much larger on average than they were just a decade ago, resulting in a significant increase in caloric consumption. Eat only when you feel hungry, and eat only as much as your body and your activity levels require.
- Keep physically active: Burning calories is essential to weight loss. For you overall health and cancer risk reduction, AICR recommends an hour each day of moderate exercise and an hour each weak of vigorous activity.
- Be practical: Any attempt to lose weight should be done carefully to ensure that you get all the nutrients you need. Go slowly. A healthy rate of weight loss is, on average, one-half to one pound a week. Evidence suggests that even a 5 percent weight reduction can help ward off future illness.
By gradually incorporating these recommendations into your daily habits, you should be able to reach and maintain a healthier weight, reducing your risk for cancer, cardiovascular disease, type 2 diabetes and other chronic diseases while enhancing your overall health and well-being.
