Question ID: WS-7
Submitted by: Lewis Kuller
January 21, 2011
Does substantial weight loss reduce the incidence and mortality due to cancer? Probably about 200,000 individuals now have various types of surgeries in the United States for obesity. Several studies suggest that weight loss reduces the incidence of some cancers, both endocrine- and nonendocrine-related. The Swedish Obesity Study (pseudo trial) reported a substantial decrease in cancer incidence and mortality. More moderately obese individuals in the BMI range of 35-50 kg/m2 are now having surgery. They usually can maintain substantial weight loss for a long period of time. it may be feasible to do a clinical trial to compare, for example, LAP-BAND® surgery for weight loss with behavioral weight loss and other surgical procedures with cancer outcomes as one of the events. We also can raise the question whether it is possible from observational follow up studies to determine the risk of cancer. It is possible that substantial weight loss may be one of the most effective ways to reduce cancer incidence in the population.
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Comments
Submitted By Barbara Rimer
This is a very important suggestion. People undergoing some form of gastric bypass are a population that could be studied prospectively and retrospectively. While it is likely that they could have a substantial decrease in cancer-related mortality, it is possible the association could go in the opposite direction. In either case, this would be a worthwhile population to study since they are among the individuals who will experience the most dramatic weight loss.
