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Obesity and Cancer

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Integrative Weight Management

Part of the book series: Nutrition and Health ((NH))

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Abstract

Obesity is a global epidemic and a wealth of evidence suggests that obesity in addition to sedentary lifestyle and diet are modifiable risk factors associated with cancer. Several cancers including breast (in postmenopausal women), cervical, colon, endometrial, esophageal, gallbladder, multiple myeloma, non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma, rectal, renal, thyroid cancer, and even pancreatic cancer have been associated with obesity. A variety of biological mechanisms involving the adipocyte has been implicated in tumorigenesis. Moreover, poorer outcomes in terms of worsened disease survival have been reported for obese patients. A number of small, randomized, controlled trials to promote weight loss in cancer survivors have been undertaken and suggest modest results in relation to weight control. This chapter will review the potential mechanisms linking obesity and cancer together with a summary of the available studies of weight control in cancer survivors. Guidelines for cancer survivors regarding diet and physical activity for risk reduction and weight control also will be discussed.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Colleges of Medicine & Agriculture/Life Sciences, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ, USA

    Mary Marian MS, RD, CSO

  2. Mel & Enid Zuckerman College of Public Health, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ, USA

    Cynthia A. Thomson PhD, RD, FADA

Authors
  1. Mary Marian MS, RD, CSO
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  2. Cynthia A. Thomson PhD, RD, FADA
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Correspondence to Mary Marian MS, RD, CSO .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Johns Hopkins Hospital, Baltimore, Maryland, USA

    Gerard E. Mullin

  2. Weight Management Center, Johns Hopkins Hospital, Baltimore, Maryland, USA

    Lawrence J. Cheskin

  3. Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Brody School of Medicine at East Carolina University, Greenville, North Carolina, USA

    Laura E. Matarese

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Marian, M., Thomson, C.A. (2014). Obesity and Cancer. In: Mullin, G., Cheskin, L., Matarese, L. (eds) Integrative Weight Management. Nutrition and Health. Humana Press, New York, NY. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4939-0548-5_11

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4939-0548-5_11

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