Cancer and Other Diseases Linked To Obesity

Editor's Note: The following article is courtesy of Dr. Ken Freedman of Freedman Chiropractic Center. 

At the present time, approximately 37 percent of American adults are obese, and approximately 17 percent of American children are obese. A January, 2012 fact sheet published by the National Cancer Institute at the National Institutes of Health had some alarming facts.

It indicated that “during the past several decades, the percentage of overweight and obese adults and children has increased markedly.”

The N.C.I. fact sheet also reported that “Obesity is associated with increased risks of cancers of the esophagus, breast (postmenopausal), endometrium (the lining of the uterus), colon and rectum, kidney, pancreas, thyroid, gallbladder, and possibly other cancer types. Obese people are also at a higher risk of developing coronary heart disease, stroke, high blood pressure, diabetes and a number of other chronic diseases.”

In November, 2009, an article appearing in USA TODAY quoted data released by the American Institute for Cancer Research that indicated “about 100,500 new cases of cancer are caused by obesity every year, according to the most comprehensive attempt ever to estimate the cancers attributed to extra weight.”  

Obesity is a condition that is characterized by the storage of an abnormally high percentage of body fat. A method commonly used by doctors and researchers to measure obesity is by calculating a person’s body mass index, or BMI. You can determine your BMI by dividing your weight (in kilograms) by your height (in meters) squared.

According to the National Institutes of Health, a person with a BMI of 25 to 29.99 is considered clinically overweight, while a person with a BMI of 30 or greater is considered clinically obese. A normal BMI ranges from 18.5 to 24.9, while someone who is underweight is below 18.5. However, the problem with BMI is that it can’t tell the difference between a well-muscled 5’10”, 180 pound man, and a man with a big belly who is the same height and weight.

According to George Blackburn, M.D., Ph.D., associate director of Harvard medical school’s division of nutrition, “Determining your waist-to-hip ratio can help indicate your level of visceral fat, the dangerous belly fat linked to heart disease, diabetes, and cancer.”

You can determine it by dividing your waist measurement, by your hip measurement. At higher risk are women with a waist-to-hip ratio higher than 0.80, and men with a waist-to-hip ratio higher than 0.95.

A 2010 study in The Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism showed that waist-to-height ratio is better than BMI, waist circumference, or waist-to-hip ratio for predicting your risk of a heart attack, stroke, or death from heart disease. You are considered at risk if your waist-to-height ratio is greater than 0.5.

It makes sense that if you are overweight or obese, losing weight and eating healthier can help reduce your risk of cancer and other diseases. One of the safest and most effective programs is the Doctor Supervised ChiroThin Weight Loss Program. Offered exclusively at Freedman Chiropractic Center in East Brunswick, this program uses no drugs, exercise, prepackaged foods, shakes or bars. It is highly effective. While individual results vary, clients safely lose about 20-35 pounds of body fat in approximately six weeks. They eat real food they buy at the supermarket, along with a nutritional supplement and private weekly supervision with me. Best of all, many of my clients report feeling much more energized. They have significant reductions in high blood pressure, dramatically reduced back, knee and joint pain, better digestion, clearer skin and better sleep—in addition to being leaner and looking better!

To support my ChiroThin clients who love to dine out, I collaborated with many excellent local restaurants such as: EB Chinese, Stephano’s Restaurant and Pizzeria, Jack’s Corner Market, the Spotswood Diner and the Somerset Diner.  All you have to do is to go to a participating restaurant and order a tasty meal from their ChiroThin Menu--the restaurant does the rest. You can eat out, lose weight AND get healthy! 

The Doctor Supervised ChiroThin Weight Loss Program is offered at a fraction of the cost of other nationally advertised weight loss programs. There are no contraindications for anyone taking medications. It is even safe for children aged 10 and older.

Anyone interested in scheduling a private weight loss consultation with Dr. Freedman (which can include calculation of your BMI, waist to hip and waist to height ratios) at absolutely no charge or obligation, may do so by calling (732) 254-6011, or emailing Ken@FreedmanChiropracticCenter.com.

Since 1979, Freedman Chiropractic Center has served East Brunswick and its surrounding communities, and is located at Brier Hill Court D-6, East Brunswick, NJ 08816. Visit www.FreedmanChiropracticCenter.com.