Obesity and Cancer - What You Need to Know

Everyone knows that smoking is a major cause of cancer. Yet, according to research published in the British Journal of Public Health, obese adults have more chronic health problems than their smoking counterparts, some of which greatly increase their risk of cancer.

More than 30 known diseases are now believed to be directly linked to excess body fat, including heart disease, diabetes, periodontal disease, inflammation, high cholesterol, high blood pressure, infertility, and many cancers (including gastrointestinal, colon, kidney, esophagus, prostate, breast, and endometrial).

Over the last several years, more scientists have come to accept that there is a link between obesity and cancer. According to Dr. Graham Colditz, epidemiology professor at Harvard School of Public Health, "Given the trends in obesity and the increasing evidence of a broad range of cancers caused by excess energy balance, the projected burden of cancer over the coming years is worrisome."

Cancer, Obesity, and Insulin

One of the primary areas of concern regarding the accumulation of body fat is its association with high insulin levels, a condition referred to as hyperinsulinemia. Researchers from Columbia University found that hyperinsulinemia increases the incidence of obesity in prepubescent girls, and it also precedes a diagnosis of type 2 diabetes by five to 20 years. What does this have to do with cancer? Aside from the connection between high insulin levels and obesity, it turns out that numerous cancers may also be linked with high levels of insulin.

Israeli researchers have discovered that patients suffering from colon, stomach, and breast cancer had up to three times as much insulin, or insulin-like substances, in their tumours. Hyperinsulinemia is often associated with insulin resistance, the condition where body cells resist or do not respond even to high levels of insulin. Turkish researchers have discovered a possible means by which obesity and high insulin levels create an enhanced risk for cancer-especially breast cancer. In overweight and obese patients, inflammatory biochemicals (possibly coming from fat cells) and high insulin levels appear to work synergistically to contribute to the development of breast cancer.

It is no wonder that cancer is at epidemic proportions when you consider that most people consume an abundance of overly processed high-glycemic foods that over stimulate insulin. High insulin levels then stimulate an enzyme that greatly affects fat storage called lipoprotein lipase (LPL). Obesity researchers sometimes call LPL the gatekeeper of fat storage because of its powerful ability to enhance fat cells.

Further research presented in the journal Medical Hypothesis shows that low-glycemic, vegetarian, high-protein diets lower LPL activity. If you reduce insulin through diet (not dieting), you can control your rate of fat storage, and this would contribute to decreasing your risk of obesity and cancer. Here's how:

• Avoid high glycemic foods-especially processed grains (white flour).
• Supplement with natural fiber formulas (like the 100% food-based organic FibreLean™ formula) approximately 15 minutes prior to each meal.
• Get adequate sleep; researchers have found a link between insufficient sleep, hyperinsulinemia, and insulin resistance.
• Take a long walk after dinner, as this will help to clear excess sugars from your blood.

References:

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3. Genco RJ, et al. A Proposed Model Linking Inflammation to Obesity, Diabetes, and Periodontal Infections. J Periodontol. 2005 Nov;76(11-s):2075-2084.
4. Couillard C, et al. Plasma high-density lipoprotein cholesterol but not apolipoprotein A-I is a good correlate of the visceral obesity-insulin resistance dyslipidemic syndrome. Metabolism. 1996 Jul;45(7):882-8.
5. Johnson D, et al. Relation of abdominal obesity to hyperinsulinemia and high blood pressure in men. Int J Obes Relat Metab Disord. 1992 Nov;16(11):881-90.
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7. Dobson R. Obesity increases risk of several cancers in men and women, study finds. BMJ. 2005 Nov 5;331(7524):1042.
8. Colditz G. Obesity, Energy Balance, and Physical Activity. American Association for Cancer Research: Frontiers in Cancer Prevention Research. Oct, 31, 2005.
9. Lakka HM, et al. Obesity and weight gain are associated with increased incidence of hyperinsulinemia in non-diabetic men. Horm Metab Res. 2002 Sep;34(9):492-8.
10. Nambi V, et al. A truly deadly quartet: obesity, hypertension, hypertriglyceridemia, and hyperinsulinemia. Cleve Clin J Med. 2002 Dec;69(12):985-9.
11. Proinsulin in girls: relationship to obesity, hyperinsulinemia, and puberty. J Clin Endocrinol Metab. 2002 Oct;87(10):4673-7.Chin D, et al.
12. Jee SH, Kim HJ, Lee J. Obesity, insulin resistance and cancer risk. Yonsei Med J. 2005 Aug 31;46(4):449-55.
13. Yam D, et al. Hyperinsulinemia in colon, stomach and breast cancer patients. Cancer Lett. 1996 Jul 12;104(2):129-32.
14. Gonullu G, et al. Relation between insulin resistance and serum concentrations of IL-6 and TNF-alpha in overweight or obese women with early stage breast cancer. Cytokine. 2005 Aug 21;31(4):264-9.
15. McCarty MF. Modulation of adipocyte lipoprotein lipase expression as a strategy for preventing or treating visceral obesity. Med Hypotheses. 2001 Aug;57(2):192-200.

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