UNC Studying Link Between Obesity and Cancer

Researchers at the UNC Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center are looking into the links between obesity and cancer.

While it is common knowledge that things like smoking and exposure to sun can put you at risk for cancer, Professor in the Department of Nutrition at UNC Dr. Stephen Hursting says obesity is a lesser known risk factor.

“It might surprise [people] that obesity increases the risk of many cancers,” said Hursting. “In fact, an estimated one of every four cancer deaths can be attributed to overweight and obesity. This includes some of the leading cancer killers such as breast, colon, pancreatic and liver cancer.”

With nearly four in every ten adult Americans considered obese, Hursting says this is an urgent problem.

Even more troubling is the fact that the research shows simply losing weight doesn’t always reverse the effects that obesity has on your body.

“The road to obesity-related cancer risk is different than the road back in terms of reversing the effects of chronic obesity,” says Hursting. “There are a number of biological changes that occur in tissues, and in developing cancer itself over time with obesity, that can really get in the way.”

Hursting describes the issue as an urgent question without an answer, although simple preventative measures such as exercise and aspirin can curb the risk.

“Many people are doing a low dose aspirin for preventing heart attacks, and based on our findings I think that that’s going to also contribute to some reduction in inflammation related to obesity,” said Hursting.