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Centers for Obesity Related Illness (CORI) Caution Increased Cancer Risk for Overweight and Obese

Posted on: Monday, 4 April 2005, 12:00 CDT

BANNOCKBURN, Ill., April 4 /PRNewswire/ -- In an effort to demonstrate the broad-stroke impact of obesity on health, the Centers for Obesity Related Illness (CORI) warn that obesity increases cancer risk, with growing evidence that fat cells apparently play different roles that can spur multiple types of cancer growth. April is Control Cancer Month, and CORI supports the national and local efforts to inform the public of ways to limit cancer threats, including reversing clinically severe obesity.

"People are aware that weight impacts their overall health by putting them at greater risk for about 30 serious medical conditions, but most individuals do not associate obesity with increased cancer risk," states Michael H. Wood, M.D., F.A.C.S., a bariatric surgeon and physician co-founder of CORI. "The body of medical evidence confirms that being overweight or obese puts them at a higher risk for developing at least nine types of cancer such as breast cancer (postmenopausal women), endometrium, colon, liver, gallbladder and esophagus. Some studies estimate that excess weight may account for 14 percent to 20 percent of all cancer deaths -- 90,000 a year."

While there is a need for better understanding of how fat cells fuel cancer growth, it is clear that being overweight can make it harder to spot tumors early, detect recurrences, establish the optimal chemotherapy dose, or even fit into radiation machines -- issues which impact survival.

"Fat cells are not simply static storage deposits, and visceral fat -- which settles in and around the organs of the abdomen -- is even more significant because it is the most metabolically active," explains Dr. Wood. "Today, physicians and researchers theorize that fat cells stimulate surges of insulin and proteins that may, in turn, spur uncontrollable growth among certain cell types or lead to inflammation, a known perpetrator of cardiac problems that is now suspect in cancer."

According to Dr. Wood, individuals should attempt to lessen their cancer risk in many ways: quit smoking and chewing tobacco; reduce direct exposure to the sun's rays; and schedule regular mammograms, colonoscopies, PAP and PSA tests. "Weight control and diet should be precautionary steps for everyone to reduce cancer risk," explains Dr. Wood. "For those individuals who are genetically prone to cancer, weight control and diet may actually delay or prevent the development of cancer."

Dr. Wood acknowledges that research is ongoing to clarify the link between obesity and cancer. However, since there is a clear association between the two, maintaining a healthy weight is a recommended method to mitigate the risk of cancer.

"For people who are 80 to 100 pounds or more over their ideal body weight, diet and lifestyle changes are not usually successful," notes Dr. Wood. "For many individuals, surgical weight loss is the only effective, long-term solution. CORI seeks to raise public awareness during Cancer Control Month of increased cancer risk for those who are overweight or obese."

CORI has medically supervised weight loss programs that offer surgical options. Individuals with a body mass index (BMI) of 40+ or who are 100 pounds or more overweight are clinically severe obese and eligible for surgery. Those who have a BMI between 35 and 40 with co-morbidities may also be eligible for surgical intervention.

CORI sponsors free health and info sessions in conjunction with acute care hospitals. Call 800-578-CORI (2674) or visit http://www.weightlosssurgery.com/ for program dates and locations.

About CORI

CORI Centers are operated by MSO Medical, Inc. with its corporate office located in Bannockburn, Illinois (Chicago suburb). MSO Medical has been awarded the Joint Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations (JCAHO) Disease-Specific Care Certification for Bariatric Surgery. MSO Medical contracts with acute care hospitals to establish Bariatric Surgery Centers of Excellence under the brand name CORI (Centers for Obesity Related Illness). CORI has established centers in Illinois, Michigan, and New York. For more information, call 800-578-CORI (2674) or visit http://www.weightlosssurgery.com/.

Centers for Obesity Related Illness (CORI)

CONTACT: Jessica Wolfe of CPR Communications for CORI, +1-201-641-1911,ext. 51, or jwolfe@cpronline.com

Web site: http://www.coricenters.com/http://www.weightlosssurgery.com/

Source: PRNewswire

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