According to the National Institutes of Health, obesity is directly connected to the risk of sixteen other serious health conditions, including heart disease, hypertension, stroke, Type 2 diabetes and kidney disease.

But for those who have already faced a cancer diagnosis, the risk becomes even more concerning.

If you fall into this category, here’s what you need to know to save your life.

How obesity causes cancer

Experts believe that the connection between obesity and cancer risk lies in the inflammation caused by visceral fat — an especially dangerous type of fat known to build up around organs in the abdominal cavity, or midsection of the body.

Visceral fat cells are large, and there are a lot of them. This excess fat doesn’t leave much room for oxygen — and that low-oxygen environment triggers inflammation.

Inflammation caused by obesity can keep the body from properly responding to insulin. This is called insulin resistance. When the body doesn’t respond to insulin correctly, it produces more insulin to compensate for that.  

The increase in insulin due to insulin resistance triggers an increase in the number of cells produced, which can lead to cancer.

According to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), the following 13 cancers are obesity-related:

• Breast (in women who have gone through menopause)
• Colon and rectum
• Uterus
• Gallbladder
• Upper stomach
• Kidneys
• Liver
• Ovaries
• Pancreas
• Thyroid
• Meningioma (a type of brain cancer)
• Multiple myeloma

Obesity also makes a second diagnosis more likely

Researchers from the American Cancer Society have found that cancer survivors who are overweight or considered obese are at increased risk of developing cancer again.

They analyzed data from 26,894 cancer survivors in the Cancer Prevention Study II Nutrition study. Participants were surveyed starting in 1992 with follow-up occurring through 2017.

They found that overweight cancer survivors had a 15% increased risk for a second diagnosis of any cancer and a 40% increased risk for a second diagnosis of obesity-related cancers. 

In comparison, obese cancer survivors had a 34% increased risk for a second diagnosis of any cancer and a 78% increased risk for a second diagnosis of obesity-related cancers. 

Make weight maintenance part of cancer prevention

Whether or not you’re a cancer survivor, being overweight or obese clearly stacks the odds against you. That makes avoiding weight gain paramount.

But because cancer survivors deal with unique factors, including treatment-induced hormonal effects that can lead to weight gain, especially in breast, prostate and colon cancer treatment, fad weight loss diets may not provide the nutrition they need.

The Dana Farber Cancer Institute provides some specific advice for cancer survivors. They suggest that unwanted weight gain can be managed, and even reversed, by following some simple, healthy eating and activity guidelines including:

• Follow a schedule, and don’t skip any meals or snacks.
• Fill up on nourishing, naturally low-calorie foods, such as including a fruit/veggie at every meal or snack. The fiber will keep you full and help prevent overeating.
• Adjust your portions by using a smaller plate, which will make a smaller portion look bigger.
• Balance your plate by making at least half of your plate consist of vegetables and fruit, one-quarter of your plate should be lean protein and one-quarter whole grains.
• Incorporate moderate exercise.
• Get adequate sleep.

Their recommendations on how to eat for cancer prevention and survivorship are similar to the Mediterranean diet, which is considered a sustainable eating style because it’s not overly restrictive, making it easier to follow and stick to.

It’s heavier on fruits and vegetables and whole grains — two of the best ways to get more fiber into your diet. It also is heavier on fish and poultry, recommends healthier fats, like olive oil, and limits red meat.

As far as exercise, studies have found it has numerous benefits including:

Just remember to start easy and discuss any limitations with your cancer team, and start working on leaving cancer in the rearview mirror.

Sources:

Body weight linked to 2nd diagnosis for cancer survivors: Study — Becker’s Hospital Review

Excess Body Weight and the Risk of Second Primary Cancers Among Cancer Survivors — JAMA Network

Health Risks of Overweight & Obesity — National Institutes of Health

How does obesity cause cancer? — University of Texas MC Anderson Cancer Center