The Cancer Risk Reduction Potential of Weight Loss: What Health Care Providers Need to Know
The Cancer Risk Reduction Potential of Weight Loss: What Health Care Providers Need to Know
— By Dawn M. Sweet, Ph.D.
There is growing evidence that suggests intentional weight loss mediated by lifestyle change or pharmacotherapies can reduce cancer risk in adults.
By 2030, the prevalence of obesity in the United States is expected to increase from 42 percent to 50 percent1, which will substantively contribute to the global burden of cancer. The International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) notes that there is strong evidence to suggest a relationship between cancer and obesity.2 The IARC states that there is a causal link between esophageal, colon, liver, pancreas, and breast (post-menopausal women) cancer, to name a few.
Despite the data, there is growing evidence that suggests intentional weight loss mediated by lifestyle changes or pharmacotherapies can reduce cancer risk in adults.
Intentional Weight Loss and Cancer Prevention
In a Women’s Health Initiative (WHI) study3,4 that included 93,676 postmenopausal women with obesity across the U.S., women with obesity who intentionally lost at least five percent of their total weight had a significantly lower risk of developing endometrial cancer than women who did not lose weight. Women who gained 10 pounds over a three-year period had a greater risk of developing endometrial cancer.5 Results from the Iowa Women’s Health Study found that postmenopausal women who intentionally lost 20 pounds reduced their risk of obesity-related cancers by 18 percent. These studies suggest that intentional weight loss could be a preventative intervention for obesity-related cancers in postmenopausal women. It should be noted that this remains an empirical uncertainty in other populations.
Data in men and premenopausal women are more limited. However, the Look AHEAD trial, initially designed to evaluate improvements in cardiovascular outcomes, also examined weight loss in adults with obesity and type 2 diabetes.6 Participants were randomized into a conventional diabetes education group or an intensive lifestyle intervention group. Participants randomized into the intensive lifestyle intervention group lost more weight at the one-year mark, 8.6 percent compared to 0.7 percent and had a lower incidence of obesity-related cancers, 6.1 compared 7.3 cases per 1000 person years.
Weight cycling,7 repeated cycles of intentional weight loss followed by weight regain, has been linked to an increased risk of cancer because it is believed to promote an inflammatory state and alter immune surveillance.8 Research suggests that weight cycling does not offer protection against cancer, and that weight maintenance is important after weight loss.
Weight Loss Interventions and Cancer Prevention
Dietary Lifestyle Interventions
Data related to dietary interventions and cancer risk is not conclusive, through there is some evidence to suggest that diet-related weight loss leads to a decrease in several biomarkers associated with cancer.9 In a group of 10 postmenopausal women with obesity, diet-related weight loss led to a clinically significant reduction in serum tumor necrosis factor-a and interleukin (IL)-8 concentrations. Downregulating the expression of pro-inflammatory cytokines and gene pathways that are associated with colorectal cancer in rectosigmoid biopsies was also observed.10
There is also evidence to suggest that macronutrient intake could affect one’s cancer risk.11 Consuming more fruits, vegetables, whole grains, legumes, fish, and extra virgin olive oil has resulted in a decreased risk of cancer.12 In a meta-analysis that included 56 observational studies, a diet rich in plant-based foods, healthy fats, lean proteins, and moderate amounts of dairy and limited amounts of red meat decreased the incidence of colorectal, breast, gastric, prostate, liver, and head and neck cancer.13
While evidence is growing, there is still a need for additional empirical work. Current thinking suggests a caloric deficit of 500 – 700 kcal/d promotes weight loss, with a daily caloric intake range of 1,200 – 1,500 kcal for women and 1,500 – 1,800 kcal for men with obesity.14
Physical Activity
In addition to dietary lifestyle changes, including physical activity can promote intentional weight loss. In a clinical trial involving 439 postmenopausal women with obesity, participants were randomized into one of four groups: caloric restriction diet, aerobic exercise, diet + exercise, or a control group. After one year, the diet and diet + exercise groups showed significant reductions in several inflammatory biomarkers, while the exercise-only group did not exhibit this effect.15 A significant reduction in high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP) was observed in participants from both the diet and diet + exercise groups who lost at least five percent of their total body weight.
In a similar study involving 14 of 243 postmenopausal women, the diet and diet + exercise groups showed significant reductions in leptin levels compared to controls.14 While hs-CRP levels decreased in both groups, the reduction was significant only in the diet + exercise group.
While there is currently no conclusive empirical evidence that shows a direct effect of exercise on reducing the risk of cancer, data do support the addition of exercise to dietary lifestyle changes.13
Anti-Obesity Medications
To date, the role of anti-obesity medications (AOM) has not been examined in the context of cancer risk.13 However, there is strong evidence that shows their efficacy for clinically significant weight loss. Including AOMs as part of a clinically monitored weight loss program is recommended for patients who can tolerate the medication.
Weight Loss without Medications: How VLCDs and LCDs Help Manage Obesity and Lower Cancer Risk
Obesity is a modifiable risk factor for cancer, and managing it through weight loss is a powerful strategy for helping reducing this risk. While there is no “magic bullet,” combining evidence-based dietary interventions with physical activity remains the cornerstone of sustainable weight management. In clinical practice, health care providers can guide patients in making lifestyle changes that not only promote weight loss but also support overall health.
A particularly effective approach for patients struggling with obesity is the incorporation of a Low Calorie Diet (LCD) or Very Low Calorie Diet (VLCD), complemented by nutritionally designed meal replacements. These diets, when carefully planned and supervised, can deliver significant weight loss while ensuring patients receive the necessary nutrients to support health during the weight loss process. Unlike medications, VLCDs and LCDs provide a non-pharmacological, sustainable solution that can lead to both short-term weight reduction and long-term cancer risk mitigation.
For health care providers, recommending VLCDs or LCDs with medically formulated meal replacements offers a pragmatic, evidence-backed approach to managing obesity. This strategy helps patients reduce caloric intake while maintaining balanced nutrition, thereby fostering more successful, sustainable weight loss and reducing the risk of obesity-related cancers. Engaging in these discussions with patients and offering support in developing individualized, nutritionally sound weight management plans can make a significant impact in the fight against obesity and its associated cancer risks. Follow this link to learn how Robard can help you and your patients.
Source(s):
1 Projected U.S. State-level prevalence of adult obesity and severe obesity
2 Body fatness and cancer — Viewpoint of the IARC working group
3 The Women’s Health Initiative recruitment methods and results
4 Intentional weight loss and cancer risk
5 Intentional weight loss and endometrial cancer risk
6 Cardiovascular effects of intensive lifestyle intervention in type 2 diabetes
7 Weight cycling and mortality in a large prospective US study
10 Diet-induced weight loss reduces colorectal inflammation: implications for colorectal carcinogenesis
11 An umbrella review of the evidence associating diet and cancer risk at 11 anatomical sites
12 Does a Mediterranean-type diet reduce cancer risk?
13 Adherence to Mediterranean diet and risk of cancer: an updated systematic review and meta-analysis
14 Weight-centric prevention of cancer
About the Author: Dr. Dawn M. Sweet has over 20 years of experience in the field of communication. Dr. Sweet has given several invited talks to and workshops for academic and private sector audiences on the role of nonverbal and verbal communication in achieving positive outcomes and mitigating bias. Her research has been published in several top ranked peer-review journals, and it has been featured on NPR’s River to River / All Things Considered, Buzzfeed, and Science Daily. Her research has also been used to inform expert testimony.
About Robard: Robard Corporation’s medical obesity treatment programs and scientifically-designed nutrition products have been utilized by physicians, surgeons and hospitals across the United States to successfully treat patients living with obesity. To learn more about us and how we can help your practice and patients, visit us online www.Robard.com, email us at info@robard.com, or call (800) 222-9201.
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