WEIGHT AND
CANCER RISK
Dr Mary Ling, Breast Surgeon
“Whilst most people know that
obesity increases the risk of
diabetes and heart disease, many
are less aware that it increases
the risks of 11 cancers, including
breast (post-menopausal),
oesophageal, stomach, bowel,
liver, gallbladder, kidney,
pancreatic, endometrial,
ovarian and prostate. It is
predicted that obesity may soon
overtake tobacco as the leading
preventable cause of cancer in
Australia,” says Central Coast
breast surgeon Dr Mary Ling.
“Obesity increases the risk
of cancer through chronic
inflammation and excess
levels of the hormones
oestrogen and insulin
in the body.”
So, can weight loss
reduce the risk of
cancer, or is it too late
after you’ve already
gained the weight?
“Logically, losing
weight should reduce
the risk of cancer, but
proving it has not been easy.
However, emerging evidence
shows that weight loss can
reverse the increased cancer risk.”
A 2017 study published in
the Annals of Surgery found that
patients with severe obesity
who had undergone weight-
loss surgery, compared with
those who had not had surgery,
had a 33 per cent lower risk of
developing any cancer during
follow-up. The benefit is greatest
among obesity-associated
cancers, specifically breast
(post-menopausal), endometrial,
bowel and pancreatic.
Another recent large
observational study has shown
that women with a 5 per centor greater weight loss had
a significantly lower breast
cancer incidence.
So the message is optimistic,
that modest weight loss can
reduce the risk of some cancers.WEIGHT AND FERTILITY/
PREGNANCY
Dr Archana Bakal, Obstetrician
and Gynaecologist
“Obesity impacts the finely-
tuned hormones that govern
the menstrual cycle and a
woman’s ability to ovulate,”
says Dr Archana Bakal from
Westmead Private Hospital.Did you
know?
“Heart disease is the number
one killer of people with type 2
diabetes and weight loss in the
equation of their management
cannot be underestimated.”- Dr Shruti Kapila
One study in
Obesity Review
found that for
every extra 5kg
of weight there
is a 36 per cent
increased risk of
osteoarthritis.Risks on
the rise
weight loss