Obesity has long been linked to an increased risk of cancer. Research suggests that weight loss surgery can help.
Obesity and Cancer
Studies have long shown a link between being overweight and having a higher risk of cancer. In particular, people with high levels of body fat are at greater risk of developing breast cancer, colon cancer, liver cancer, pancreatic cancer, and more. The exact reason for this is still not fully clear—it may be due to obesity-related inflammation or increased hormone production—but the connection is undeniable.
Where does Surgery Fit In?
A 2022 study from the the Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA) compared the cancer risks of overweight people who underwent bariatric (weight loss) surgery to overweight people who had no surgical intervention. The study, which looked at nearly 30,000 people, found that those who underwent bariatric surgery were significantly less likely to develop cancer than those who did not.
Benefits of Bariatric Surgery
Bariatric surgery enables patients to reach their weight loss goals. In addition to lowering cancer risk, weight loss surgery improves and can even reverse other diseases associated with excess weight, including diabetes, fatty liver disease, heart disease, sleep apnea, and arthritis.
Non-surgical weight loss procedures enable patients to lose about 15 percent of their starting weight and over 30 pounds on average over a period of six months. Minimally invasive weight loss surgeries have proven to be the best long-term treatments for significant weight loss.
Achieving Weight Loss Goals
An effective weight management program includes a team of endocrinologists, registered dietitians, bariatric surgeons, and nurses with particular expertise in treatments for obesity. Working together, these specialists can offer healthy and effective approaches for losing weight, including:
- Personalized eating plans based on your preferences
- Physical activity to aid with weight loss and weight maintenance, increase physical fitness and energy levels, and improve overall health
- Minimally invasive and non-surgical weight loss procedures, including a removable stomach balloon
- Ongoing support and guidance
Next Steps
Our team develops individualized, comprehensive plans to meet your weight-loss goals. In addition to offering successful strategies for weight loss, we evaluate possible related health issues, including diabetes and polycystic ovary syndrome.
Ready for a change? To get started with our program, call (212) 305-4000 or request an appointment online today.