Obesity is a growing risk factor for cancer in the US

Obesity, which already affects 25 to 30 percent of New Jerseyans, is gaining on tobacco as a leading preventable cause of cancer, medical experts say.

In 2012, one in three cancer deaths were linked to obesity, poor nutrition or physical inactivity. By 2030, experts expect about 400,000 people to be diagnosed with obesity-related cancer annually.

"The problem is most Americans are unaware of the fact that obesity is a risk factor for common cancers like breast cancer, uterine cancer, colon cancer and prostate cancer in men and that obesity is associated with the worst outcome once the cancer is diagnosed," said Dr. Clifford Hudis, immediate past president of the American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) and chief of the Breast Cancer Medicine Service.

According to the American Cancer Society, researchers believe the higher risk may be connected to several factors:

• Immune system function and inflammation
• Levels of certain hormones, such as insulin and estrogen
• Factors that regulate cell division, including an insulin-like growth factor
• Proteins that influence how the body uses certain hormones, such as sex hormone-binding globulin

Unfortunately, for those who are diagnosed with cancer, obesity can complicate treatment and survival. Being overweight or obese accounts for 15 to 20 percent of all cancer-related deaths and obese patients also have higher rates of recurrence and more long-term side effects.

The obesity problem in this country is not happening because of a lack of trying to address the problem, according to Hudis.

"We need to understand two things. First, are there better tools for people worried about cancer or people diagnosed and being treated for cancer as opposed to the general public and two, if we can't reverse the actual weight gain that we see across society, are there ways we can blunt it's impact? That means understanding the basic biology of why obesity is associated with some cancers," Hudis said.

ASCO has created a guide for oncologists to use to educate their patients about the effects obesity can have on cancer risk and cancer-related mortality. A booklet entitled, Managing Your Weight after a Diagnosis of Cancer: A Guide for Patient and Families, is also available.

For more information and to see the booklet, click here.