HHS HealthBeat (November 18, 2009)

Weight gains and prostate cancer

From the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, I’m Jeff Levine with HHS HealthBeat.

A study indicates young men who gain weight may face a higher risk of prostate cancer later. But race and ethnicity seem to make a difference in how that plays out.

Brenda Hernandez of the University of Hawaii saw that in data from a multiethnic group of almost 84,000 men. She found big weight gains in young adulthood raised the risk of more dangerous types of prostate cancers in white men. The gains raised the risk of less dangerous forms among black men.  

In any case, Hernandez says:

[Brenda Hernandez speaks] "Men of normal weight, in all ethnic groups, should be encouraged to maintain their weight for optimal health. Men who are overweight should be encouraged to lose weight."

The study in the journal Cancer Epidemiology, Biomarkers and Prevention was supported by the National Institutes of Health.

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HHS HealthBeat is a production of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. I’m Jeff Levine.

Last revised: May 7, 2011