Intensive Lifestyle Intervention May Lower Cancer Risk

Overweight and obesity have been shown to be associated with certain types of cancers. These cancers include breast cancer, colon cancer and other cancers. One may wonder if living a healthier lifestyle can lower the risk of obesity related or overweight related cancers. So some investigators, using results from the Look AHEAD (Action for Health in Diabetes) study, attempted to determine if intentional weight loss could reduce the risk of cancer.  And the researchers concluded that it could.

The Look AHEAD study consisted of 16 U.S. study centers. The study was a randomized controlled trial that used an intensive lifestyle intervention (ILI) method similar to that used in the Diabetes Prevention Program (DPP) study. The Look AHEAD study was done to determine if intentional weight loss could reduce “cardiovascular morbidity and mortality in overweight individuals with type 2 diabetes.” The study consisted of 5,145 participants and it was scheduled to conclude in 2012.

While the prevention of cardiovascular morbidity and mortality in overweight individuals with type 2 diabetes was the primary focus of the study, cancer was one of the outcomes that the investigators wanted to look at. Therefore, cancer incidence was given attention. “Cancer incidence was defined as the first reported occurrence of a malignant tumor other than nonmelanoma skin cancer.” The investigators looked at medical records, death certificates, hospital records and emergency department records to determine cancer incidence in Look AHEAD participants.

The investigators concluded the following: “An ILI aimed at weight loss lowered incidence of obesity‐related cancers by 16% in adults with overweight or obesity and type 2 diabetes. Although the result was not statistically significant, this finding provided evidence that patients with obesity can reduce their cancer risk through weight loss.”

Stressing the importance of weight loss for people with obesity can lower the risk for cancer. And making weight loss recommendation to obese patients is something that healthcare providers should do.

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