Obesity Likely Increases Cancer Risk, Severity
A recent study concludes that obesity may influence the severity and progression of specific types of cancer, primarily ovarian. The study’s researchers believe that fat cells excrete a hormone or protein that allows cancer cells to proliferate at a much faster pace than in individuals who are in their ideal weight range.
San Diego, CA (PRWEB) September 28, 2006
A recent study concludes that obesity may influence the severity and progression of specific types of cancer, primarily ovarian. The study’s researchers believe that fat cells excrete a hormone or protein that allows cancer cells to proliferate at a much faster pace than in individuals who are in their ideal weight range.
Physicians have long suspected that morbid obesity is closely correlated with a number of serious conditions that severely undermine the health of overweight patients, including heart disease, high blood pressure and diabetes. Other recent studies have also shown a link between obesity and a heightened risk for breast cancer.
“Obesity is a serious medical condition that is best addressed by medical or clinical intervention,” said Laurence Tanaka, M. D., F. A.C. S., surgeon at Pacific Bariatric Surgical Medical Group (http://www. pbsmg. com (http://www. pbsmg. com)) and Scripps Mercy Hospital in San Diego. “The advances in modern medicine, combined with the latest surgical procedures, allow us to combat the increased risk for disease and offer patients a better lifestyle.”
For severely overweight people, the most effective method to lose weight may be bariatric or gastric bypass surgery. In fact, according to scientifically published reports, in 95 percent of cases, significant weight lost through non-surgical programs is regained within three to five years. While bariatric surgery may set the stage for significant weight loss, it’s important to know that even surgical weight loss requires long-term lifestyle modification.
In addition to drastically reducing the size of an individual’s stomach, the surgery is also the first step in a series of lifestyle changes. Simply reducing one’s stomach size is not enough; patients must adopt a new diet, by eating lower-fat and high-protein foods to ensure proper nutrition since the amount of food they consume will be reduced. In addition, exercise will greatly improve the health and increase weight loss after surgery. Support groups, such as those offered as a part of aftercare by Pacific Bariatric Surgical Medical Group and Scripps Mercy Hospital, are an excellent way to adjust to a new lifestyle in the company of like-minded patients.
Surgeons at Pacific Bariatric Surgical Medical Group, Inc. have performed over 9,000 procedures on adult and adolescent patients at Scripps Mercy Hospital. As a result of outstanding aftercare programs and support groups, patients at Pacific Bariatric and Scripps Mercy Hospital see a slightly higher success rate than the national average.
Pacific Bariatric Surgical Medical Group, Inc. and Scripps Mercy Hospital are nationally designated by the American Society for Bariatric Surgery as a Center of Excellence for bariatric surgery. Pacific Bariatric Surgical Medical Group, also known as Hillcrest Surgical Medical Group, Inc., has an 80-year tradition of surgical excellence and leadership in San Diego County. For more information, visit http://www. pbsmg. com (http://www. pbsmg. com).
Established in 1890 by the Sisters of Mercy, Scripps Mercy Hospital serves the San Diego and Chula Vista communities. With 700 licensed beds, more than 3,000 employees and 1,300 physicians, Scripps Mercy Hospital is San Diego’s longest established and only Catholic hospital. With two campuses, Scripps Mercy Hospital is the largest hospital in San Diego County and one of the 10 largest in California. For more information, visit www. scripps. org.
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