Seventy percent of adults and 33 percent of children are now classified as overweight or obese. With the increased weight, we are seeing more cancers and metabolic disorders.
EXAMPLES OF CANCERS THAT INCREASE WITH WEIGHT
Breast and uterine cancer
We see elevated estrogen (three times that of normal weighted women) in overweight post-menopausal women. This occurs because fat cells have the ability to make estrogen.
Pancreatic, kidney and colorectal cancers
Excess weight often causes high blood insulin which causes these cancers.
Esophagus cancer
Excess weight leads to low-grade inflammation which damages all parts of the body. It’s also related to a 300 percent increase in esophageal cancer. Low-grade inflammation is also related to many of the other cancers related to weight.
WHAT YOU CAN DO
Monitor your carbohydrate intake
Abdominal or visceral fat isn’t good no matter what you weigh. This fat causes high cholesterol, high blood pressure, pre-diabetes and diabetes – all which will shorten your life. Abdominal/visceral fat can also cause elevated insulin levels. Saturated fats and sugar boost visceral fat. Unfortunately, carbohydrates taste good and many people have a sweet tooth. Americans consume 55-60 percent
of their calories from carbohydrates. Remember, carbohydrates turn into sugar. Try to keep your daily carbohydrate intake to less than 40 percent of your calories.
Manage your weight
How much weight can you gain? It has been found that an extra 5-20 pounds matters. Women who gain 5-20 pounds after age 18 have a high risk of type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular disease, high blood pressure, obesity-related cancers, gallstones and arthritis. Men who gain 5-20 pounds after age 21 have a high risk of type 2 diabetes and high blood pressure. All of these disorders will reduce your life span and quality of life. Once the damage occurs, it’s hard to reverse. For instance, once you have a stroke, it’s hard to get back to the life you had before the stroke.
Measure your body fat
BMI is a poor measurement of body fat. Having a DXA will give you exact measurements of body fat and the location of the fat. DXA also measures bone density to rule out osteoporosis. PRO Club has two DXA machines for its members located in the Performance Laboratory adjacent to the Fitness Center.
Seek help from experts
PRO Club is one of the leading centers in the world today for reversing overweight and obesity. We have one of the world’s most thorough performance laboratories to determine your state of wellness. We have several programs to help you lose weight safely with the support of in-house physicians, dietitians, exercise physiologists and counselors. We have programs to help you lose 6-18 pounds which include a dietitian and a prepared diet for 21 or 28 days. We have the leading weight loss program in the country for people who want to lose 20 to 300 pounds that follows the National Institutes of Health guidelines. You’ll find that many of these programs are supported by your employer.
By Dr. Mark Dedomenico
