From OncoLog, January 2004, Vol. 49, No. 1

House Call: Cancer and Your Weight

Lately, it seems that almost every week, a new study comes along that links obesity to another health problem. Now, an American Cancer Society (ACS) study has found that excess pounds can increase a person’s risk of dying from cancer. But don’t despair, you can take steps to counteract this risk and improve your overall health.

In the ACS study, 900,000 people were evaluated for 16 years. The study participants who were overweight or obese were compared with those who were of normal weight, with adjustments made for smoking and other cancer risk factors. A body mass index (BMI) of 18.5 to 24.9 was considered normal, a BMI of 25 to 29.9 was overweight, and a BMI of 30 or above was obese. By this measure, a 5-foot-11-inch person who weighs 175 pounds would be in the normal range, with a BMI of 24.4. A 5-foot-5-inch woman weighing between 150 and 174 pounds and a 6-foot man weighing between 182 and 213 pounds would both be in the overweight range, and people with weights above that would be classified as obese.

None of the participants had cancer at the beginning of the study, but by the end of it, a substantial number did.

The researchers concluded that excess weight could account for 14% of cancer deaths in the men studied and 20% in the women. The ACS study linked excess weight to the occurrence of non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma, multiple myeloma, and cancers of the cervix, ovary, liver, pancreas, stomach, and prostate. Earlier studies have found that being overweight is associated with cancers of the breast and uterus, colon and rectum, kidney, gallbladder, and esophagus.

No matter how much you weigh, however, the following actions will help to decrease your chances of getting cancer:

Maintain your weight within the normal body mass index range.

If you are already overweight, consult your physician for a safe weight-loss plan. Even losing as little as 5% to 10% of body weight has been shown to decrease the risk for many diseases.

Exercise frequently—preferably every day.

How much exercise do you need? The American Institute for Cancer Research’s report “Food, Nutrition, and the Prevention of Cancer” recommends one hour of moderate activity a day plus one additional hour per week of vigorous activity such as brisk walking uphill, swimming, playing tennis, or dancing. While this may sound a bit overwhelming, keep in mind that moderate exercise includes such everyday activities as doing housework, playing with your kids, raking leaves or gardening, taking the stairs instead of the elevator, and taking an after-dinner walk.

Eat lots of fruits and vegetables.

The antioxidants, carotenoids, and vitamins C, A, and E found in fruits and vegetables have been shown to reduce the risk of a variety of cancers. The National Cancer Institute advises eating five or more servings of fruits and vegetables a day. One serving is one medium piece or 1/2 cup of fruit, 3/4 cup of 100% fruit or vegetable juice, 1/4 cup of dried fruit, 1/2 cup of raw or cooked vegetables, or 1 cup of leafy vegetables.

Increase your consumption of low-fat, calcium-rich foods.

Recent studies indicate that calcium may help prevent colon cancer. A National Institutes of Health consensus panel of experts recommended that adult men and women have a calcium intake of 1,000 mg daily. After age 51 for women and 65 for men, the daily calcium intake should increase to 1,500 mg. One cup of milk contains 300 mg of calcium, and 1 cup of nonfat plain yogurt contains 400 mg.

These simple changes in diet and exercise can go a long way in protecting you against cancer.

For more information on this topic or for questions about M. D. Anderson’s treatments, programs, or services, call the M. D. Anderson Information Line at (800) 392-1611 (in the United States) or (713) 792-3245 (in Houston and outside the United States).TOP

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