Can Losing Weight Help Prevent Prostate Cancer?

Men who are overweight or obese have higher risk factors for the development of a wide variety of medical conditions. From an increased risk for heart disease to higher risk for development of some kinds of cancer, carrying extra pounds around is simply not good for the body no matter how it’s looked at. When it comes to prostate cancer risks, however, the jury is still out to some extent.

While most studies have not found a direct link between obesity and higher risk for prostate cancer, some others have shown that those who are overweight are more likely to develop more aggressive forms of this disease. Other studies have found that weight may play a role in prostate cancer deaths.

Although the studies remain inconclusive, obesity does seem to play at least a small role in elevating some prostate cancer risk factors. With that in mind, men who are interested in getting an edge in the health department might want to take positive steps to change their outlook as early in life as possible. That means shedding those extra pounds and making appropriate lifestyle changes to keep them off.

Here are a few tips that can help:

• Eating a healthy diet doesn’t mean having to eat like a rabbit. Men don’t necessarily have to give up everything they love to eat healthy and maintain suggested weight levels. Instead, strive for a balance and keep those "indulgences" such as red meat, high fat foods and sugary foods at a minimum. A diet should be rich in fruits and vegetables, lean meat and low-fat dairy on a consistent basis though.
• Get active and have fun. Exercise doesn’t have to be boring to be effective. Devise ways to get active while having fun. That might mean joining a basketball league or simply taking daily brisk walks or runs with family and friends. If it involves moving, it’s a step in the right direction.

Studies may not have found direct links between obesity and prostate cancer, but the reality is the healthier a lifestyle happens to be the less likely it is health problems will arise. Take steps now to get active, lose weight and keep it off.

About Author

Dr. Echt and his team at the Prostate Seed Institute offer the most highly sophisticated methods of radiation therapy available in the United States, equal to that found in major medical center and academic settings. These include prostate seed implantation, high dose radiation implants, and external beam radiation with image-guided and intensity-modulated (IGRT and IMRT) capabilities.