While obesity lowers the chance of surviving cancer, regular exercise can
improve your chance of survival, even if your BMI is still high.
(photo: by southernfried)
The American Institute for Cancer Research (AICR) held a press conference on November 5, 2009, during which researchers presented new information on the link between cancer and obesity. Not only does the excess body fat present in people who are overweight increase the risk of certain types of cancer, carrying extra weight can decrease your survival chances once you have cancer.
Melinda Irwin, PhD, MPH, Associate Professor of Epidemiology at Yale University, presented the part of conference covering the role of exercise and weight management on cancer survivorship. In her presentation, Dr. Irwin showed excess body weight due to obesity increased the risk of death in cancer patients. She also stressed the fact that increasing physical activity to lower body weight improves the chance of survival, even if the cancer patient still has a high Body Mass Index (BMI).
Dr. Irwin suggested the reason physical activity might improve cancer survival rates is because exercise helps control hormone levels in the body, which can play a role in slowing cancer. For example, the combination of excess weight and lack of physical activity increases insulin levels in the body. Women with higher insulin levels at the time of breast cancer diagnosis have a two to three-fold increase in their risk of death than women with lower insulin levels. A recent study conducted by Dr. Irwin showed breast cancer survivors who exercised regularly decreased their insulin levels by 8% over a six-month period.
"It's true that higher BMI is associated with poorer outcomes. Now we need to ask why this is the case," said Dr. Irwin. "An increasing number of studies suggest that regular physical activity improves cancer survival, even among survivors who are overweight or obese. That's really the take-home message here."
Comments
Even more reason to get moving more often. Thanks! Indianapolis Retirement Examiner
Exercise is important..this is another good reason to exercise!
This should be no surprise. The good news is that it has never been easier to get shape and feel great. Check out Holosfitness,com for information for a wide array for information and fitness-related information.
I am a B/C survivor - mulit-focal tumors, lymph involvement, chemo, double mastectomy, the whole bit. The problem is that the anti-cancer drug I'm on for the next 5 years, an aromatase inhibitor, has side effects of fatigue, severe joint and muscle aches, and weight gain. Before my breast cancer, I routinely worked out at least an hour a day, and doing 45 minutes on an elliptical was routine. Now it's everything can do to just do 15 minutes on the elliptical. The drug I'm on definitely decreases my chances for recurrance, but the 20 pounds I've gained and my inability to exercise like I used to increases my chances for recurrance. Talk about being between a rock and a hard place.
Keep on moving...the most important lesson!
While I don't want to discourage exercise at all, this is much too simplistic. Good scientific studies document pretty conclusively that exercise as a modality will not decrease weight and is marginal for maintaining weight. There are many good reasons to exercise, but weight reduction or maintenance is not among them. This information cascade seems to be forever ingrained in the fiber of our pop knowledge and continues as it is here to be repeated over and over again. Wrong info like this may be part of the reason we see overweight and obesity at 67% nationally and approaching 80% in some minority groups. It simply presents a false premise as a cure.
Physical activity is important for everybody regardless of weight or BMI. Great information.
Got something to say?
Examiner.com is looking for writers, photographers, and videographers to join the fastest growing group of local insiders. If you are interested in growing your online rep apply to be an Examiner today!