South Florida Health and Wellness Magazine Health and Wellness Articles
Related Articles
Researchers from the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Center are finding links that indicate moderate weight loss decreases cancer risk in women. This is especially true from women in and after menopause. Researchers say that losing weight before the age of 60 can specifically lower cancer risks. Early weight loss can affect hormones later in life.
How do Hormones affect cancer risk?
How is body fat involved?
Postmenopausal women who gain weight from early adulthood into their 60’s have been shown to have a consistently higher risk for breast cancer after menopause. Cancer researchers explain that fat tissue becomes a major source of estrogen production in postmenopausal women and estrogen causes certain types of tumors in the breast to grow. Because obese women have more fat tissue, more estrogen is produced in their bodies when compared to women with healthy body mass indexes (BMIs).
Dr. Anne McTiernan, director of the Prevention Center at Fred Hutchinson in Seattle, Wash explains up to 75 percent of postmenopausal women with breast cancer have the estrogen receptor positive variety, meaning that these cancer cells will grow when estrogen is present. McTiernan estimated that reducing these estrogen levels through weight loss can lower a woman’s chance of estrogen sensitive breast cancer by as much as 50 percent.
“Weight loss by postmenopausal women is one of the best ways to reduce risk of breast cancer.” Says McTierran.
Modest weight loss can have significant effects. “One main point is that women don’t have to be like the ‘Biggest Loser,'” McTiernan said. “A lot of people are thinking for general health benefits that they have to lose 50 pounds if they are 200 pounds. That’s not what we are seeing.” “Having a first goal of 10 percent of weight lost can have major health effects; it’s not as difficult as people are thinking it is.”
For many women weight loss is a never ending battle. Yo-yo dieting leads to metabolic resistance and rebound weight gain. The cycle seems never ending and weight loss seems impossible to achieve or sustain. Many women we work with ask the same question. How do I lose weight and keep it off? A successful weight loss and maintenance program includes the following components:
1. An eating program specifically tailored to fit your lifestyle, metabolism and goals.
2. A plan that offers supportive services so that you learn to not only loose the weight but keep it off.
3. Makes sure you are eating the right kind of calories for your body’s metabolic needs with specific attention to proper amount of protein, carbohydrates, fat, fiber, and essential vitamins and minerals.
4. Include exercise in your weight loss and maintenance plan. Moving 20 minutes a day had dramatic and positive effects on metabolism, energy, mood, and reduced body fat.
5. Hold yourself accountable. Committing to a program or plan, working with a coach not only provides structure and create a roadmap to your weight loss goals it also holds each of us accountable. Accountability has been shown increase weight loss in multiple studies.
At Physicians Weigh loss we help you choose a plan that is tailored especially for your lifestyle, metabolism and needs. If you have been battling those extra pounds unsuccessfully let us show you the difference a scientifically developed plan can make in reaching your goals. For a FREE consultation with one of our Weight Loss Experts call 561-776-2321.
