You know that a high-fat diet can put on pounds --- but can it also increase your risk for cancer? Researchers are trying to zero in on the answer amid many studies that have not yielded clear results. For example, some studies have found that women are less likely to develop breast cancer in countries where they have less total fat in their diets. But other factors, such as exercise rates, could play a role in those results. In the United States, a lower-fat diet hasn't been proven to cut the risk of breast cancer. Obesity does raise your risks for some cancers, however.
High-Fat Hazard?
According to the American Cancer Society, there is not much evidence that your overall fat consumption affects your risk of developing cancer. But saturated fat --- found primarily in animal sources, such as meats --- may raise the risk for some cancers, including colon and prostate cancer. The ACS advises women concerned about breast cancer to limit their consumption of high-fat meats. And many studies show you can lower your risk for some cancers if you avoid gaining too much weight.
Obesity's Effects
If a high-fat diet leads to overweight and obesity, your cancer risk rises. A 2003 report published in the "New England Journal of Medicine" estimated that 14 percent of American men's cancer deaths and 20 percent of women's deaths were tied to overweight or obesity. Why the link? Carrying too much body fat appears to be linked to at least three factors that may increase cancer risk: an increase in certain hormones, including estrogen; disruption in how your body processes insulin; and chronic, low-grade inflammation.
Specific Cancers
Researchers have linked obesity to cancers of the colon, endometrium, kidney and esophagus. Being obese also raises your risk for breast cancer if you are past menopause. Obesity combined with a sedentary lifestyle may account for 25 to 30 percent of these cancers, according to the National Cancer Institute, and some research connects obesity with cancers of the gallbladder, ovaries and pancreas. Many studies have explored a possible link between obesity and prostate cancer, but results so far have been inconsistent.
Diet Recommendations
Eating more fruits, vegetables and plant-based proteins is one option if you are concerned about limiting your cancer risks. Vegetarian diets tend to be low in saturated fat. While that in itself will not protect you from cancer, most fruits and vegetables provide nutrients and fiber for relatively few calories --- which may reduce your cancer risk by helping you maintain a healthy weight. The ACS suggests trying for at least five daily servings of fruits and vegetables. Avoiding weight gain after cancer treatment also can improve your chances for recovery and survival, the ACS advises.
Member Comments