Weight-loss Surgery: Get Thinner and Fight Cancer

The journal Obesity Surgery reports that bariatric surgery may do more than lower the risk of heart problems and improve type 2 diabetes in obese patients.

A study of more than 54,000 people looked at cancer rates after surgery and found that before surgery obese individual has double the risk of cancer rates than the normal weight individuals.  After surgery, the rate went back to the same as normal weight individuals.

Source:  Obes Surg, 2014:doi:10,1007

Robert G. Tupac, DDS, FACP, Inc.,
Diplomate, American Board of Prosthodontics
(661) 325-1275 | www.drtupac.com
5060 California Ave., #170, Bakersfield, CA 93309

Oh, My, BMI!

Body Mass Index, or BMI, is a common way of measuring body fat.  It is determined by dividing an individual's body weight in kg by the square of their height in meters (kg/m2).

• Normal: BMI 18.5-24.9
• Overweight: 25.0-29.9 --13% higher risk of death
• Obesity Class I: 30.0-34.0 -- 44% higher risk of death
• Obesity Class II: 35.0-39.9 -- 88% higher risk of death
• Obesity Class III: 40.0-49.9 -- 250% higher risk of death

31.6% of U.S. adults are at a healthy weight.
68% of U.S. adults are overweight or obese.

Robert G. Tupac, DDS, FACP, Inc.,
Diplomate, American Board of Prosthodontics
(661) 325-1275 | www.drtupac.com
5060 California Ave., #170, Bakersfield, CA 93309

New Year's Resolution: Lose Weight and Lower Cancer Risk!

Pancreatic Cancer

Two recent studies significantly correlate weight loss and cancer risk:

The Journal of Clinical Oncology, reported (online 10-21-2013) data from the Brigham and Women's Hospital in Boston, from 902 patients, and the association of pancreatic cancer survival and prediagnostic BMI.

Researchers found a significantly higher risk of death from pancreatic cancer for patients with BMI>35 kg/m (obesity) than those with a BMI of less than 25.  It is theorized that chronic alterations in systemic metabolism, associated with obesity, are the reason.

Belly Fat

A study from the Mayo Clinic, reported in Clinical Gastroenterology and Hepatology systematically reviewed and (meta) analyzed the association between belly fat (central adiposity) and esophageal inflammation, metaplasia and adenocarcinoma.

Researchers found that, compared with patients with normal physique, those with increased belly fat (the amount of belly fat was independent from the patient's BMI and also from the existence of gastroesophageal reflux disease {GERD}),  had significantly increased risk of esophageal inflammation, erosion and cancer.

Robert G. Tupac, DDS, FACP, Inc., Diplomate, American Board of Prosthodontics (661) 325-1275 | www.drtupac.com 5060 California Ave., #170, Bakersfield, CA 93309

A Study Referenced by The Endocrine Society on Dieting

A study referenced by

The Endocrine Society reported a comparison of three groups of mice followed throughout their life span. The mice stayed on their respective diets and measures of health, including body weight, body fat and blood glucose (sugar) levels, were obtained.

High fat group: mice that stayed on the high fat diet became obese.

Low fat group: mice on a low fat diet longer than those on the high fat diet. Yo-yo group: this group were on a high fat diet for four weeks, followed by a low fat diet for four weeks, back and forth, for their lifetime. This diet resulted in large fluctuations in the health measures, decreasing during the low fat cycle and increasing to a diabetic state during the high fat diet.  Surprisingly, the mice on the yo-yo diet had a similar life span to that of the low fat group.

Edward List, principle investigator, stated: "From our study, it appears that it is better to continue to encourage weight loss regardless of the number of attempts and failures."

Source: a-health-blog.com

Robert G. Tupac, DDS, FACP, Inc., Diplomate, American Board of Prosthodontics (661) 325-1275 | www.drtupac.com 5060 California Ave., #170, Bakersfield, CA 93309