Latest news with #JournaloftheNationalCancerInstitute
Yahoo
25-03-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Men face higher cancer risk with this specific body fat measurement
Obesity has long been established as a risk factor for cancer, particularly when it's stored in certain areas of the body. Now, new research suggests that a larger waist circumference is a bigger risk factor than body mass index (BMI) for obesity-related cancers — but only for men, not for women. The findings, published in the Journal of the National Cancer Institute, will be presented in May at the European Congress on Obesity in Malaga, Spain. Bmi Is Wrong Way To Measure Obesity, Researchers Say The study was led by Dr. Ming Sun, Dr. Josef Fritz and Dr. Tanja Stocks from Lund University in Sweden. The researchers analyzed data from 340,000 Swedish people averaging 51 years of age whose BMI and waist circumference assessments were performed between 1981 and 2019, according to a press release. Read On The Fox News App They then compared those statistics to cancer diagnoses pulled from the Swedish Cancer Register. Over a period of 14 years, there were 18,185 diagnoses of obesity-related cancers among the patients in the study. 'Hidden' Fat Could Predict Alzheimer's Disease Up To 20 Years Before Symptoms, Research Finds For men, an increase in waist circumference of around 11 cm resulted in a 25% higher risk of obesity-related cancer. This was a bigger risk factor than having an increased BMI, which increased the chances by 19%. For women, an increase of about 12 cm in waist circumference and an increase in BMI were both linked to a 13% greater cancer risk, the study found. Obesity-related cancers include cancers of the esophagus (adenocarcinoma), gastric (cardia), colon, rectum, liver/intrahepatic bile ducts, gallbladder, pancreas, breast (postmenopausal), endometrium, ovary, renal cell carcinoma, meningioma, thyroid and multiple myeloma, the release stated. Overall, the researchers found waist circumference to be a more accurate cancer predictor than BMI. "BMI is a measure of body size, but does not provide information on fat distribution, whereas waist circumference is a proxy more closely related to abdominal adiposity," they wrote. "This distinction is crucial because visceral fat, which accumulates around the abdominal organs, is more metabolically active and has been implicated in adverse health outcomes, including insulin resistance, inflammation and abnormal blood fat levels. Consequently, individuals with similar BMIs may have distinct cancer risks due to differences in fat distribution." One potential reason for the gender discrepancy, according to the researchers, is that men are more likely to store fat viscerally (in the belly), while women generally accumulate more subcutaneous fat (under the skin) and peripheral fat (in the arms and legs). Alzheimer's And Parkinson's Risk Is Higher For People With Body Fat In Two Specific Areas "Consequently, waist circumference is a more accurate measure of visceral fat in men than in women," the researchers wrote. "This may make waist circumference a stronger risk factor [for] cancer in men, and explain why waist circumference adds risk information beyond that conveyed by BMI in men, but not women." Excess body fat is also linked to higher insulin levels in men than in women, the researchers noted, which could be a factor in waist circumference being more strongly linked to men's cancer risk. "The divergence in how waist circumference and BMI relate to cancer risk between men and women underscores the complexity of the impact of adiposity (excess body fat) on cancer development," the researchers wrote. Click Here To Sign Up For Our Health Newsletter "It suggests that considering biological and physiological differences between the sexes might be helpful when assessing cancer risk. Further research is needed to explore these sex differences." They also suggested that combining hip circumference with waist circumference in women could give a more accurate estimation of visceral fat. Dr. Marc Siegel, clinical professor of medicine at NYU Langone Health and Fox News' senior medical analyst, was not involved in the study, but reinforced that BMI is a "good indicator of obesity, but is not the only one." "Obesity leads to inflammation, and inflammation correlates with many kinds of cancer, including breast and prostate and cancers of the gastrointestinal tract," he told Fox News Digital. "It is not surprising that waist circumference in men could be a more precise indicator if measured properly, because belly fat contains a lot of the inflammatory chemicals that act as carcinogens," the doctor noted. For women, where fat distribution is somewhat different, Siegel agrees that it "makes sense" to consider both waist and hip circumference, as the Swedish study suggests. "The study looks at over 300,000 people and is an important new reference, but it is observational, so it shows an association, but not proof," the doctor added. Dr. Brett Osborn, a Florida neurosurgeon and longevity expert, also detailed the different ways in which men and women store fat. "While women accumulate more subcutaneous fat — on the hips, thighs and buttocks — men pack it around the waist, deep inside the abdomen," Osborn, who was not involved in the study, told Fox News Digital. "This is visceral fat, and it's metabolically toxic. It's not just sitting there. It's active, like a gland, secreting inflammatory chemicals (cytokines), raising insulin levels, disrupting hormones and laying the groundwork for cancer cell growth." Osborn reiterated that BMI is limited in its ability to accurately measure excess fat. "First, BMI doesn't factor in muscle mass, so a short, stocky individual with a low body fat percentage may be categorized as overweight or obese, when in fact quite the opposite is true," he said. "Second, BMI doesn't tell you where the body fat is, and as it turns out, that's what's critical — at least in men." To reduce cancer risk, Osborn recommends that men measure their waistlines to ensure they're in a healthy range. People can also track their visceral fat score on a medical-grade anthropometry scale, he said. "Anything above 40 inches (102 cm) is a red flag," he told Fox News Digital. Strength training three times per week is ideal, the doctor advised. "Resistance training reduces visceral fat and inflammation," he said. For more Health articles, visit Proper nutrition is also important, he said. "Eat like your life depends on it — because it does. Stop feeding your cancer risk." "Understand that belly fat isn't just cosmetic — it's carcinogenic," said Osborn. "You may not feel it now, but the clock is ticking. Visceral fat is silent, aggressive and deadly — and it's doing damage even if your BMI is 'normal.'"Original article source: Men face higher cancer risk with this specific body fat measurement
Fox News
25-03-2025
- Health
- Fox News
Men face higher cancer risk with this specific body fat measurement
Obesity has long been established as a risk factor for cancer, particularly when it's stored in certain areas of the body. Now, new research suggests that a larger waist circumference is a bigger risk factor than body mass index (BMI) for obesity-related cancers — but only for men, not for women. The findings, which were published in the Journal of the National Cancer Institute, will be presented in May at the European Congress on Obesity in Malaga, Spain. The study was led by Dr. Ming Sun, Dr. Josef Fritz and Dr. Tanja Stocks from Lund University in Sweden. The researchers analyzed data from 340,000 Swedish people averaging 51 years of age whose BMI and waist circumference assessments were performed between 1981 and 2019, according to a press release. They then compared those statistics to cancer diagnoses pulled from the Swedish Cancer Register. Over a period of 14 years, there were 18,185 diagnoses of obesity-related cancers among the patients in the study. For men, an increase in waist circumference of around 11 cm resulted in a 25% higher risk of obesity-related cancer. This was a bigger risk factor than having an increased BMI, which increased the chances by 19%. For women, an increase of about 12 cm in waist circumference and an increase in BMI were both linked to a 13% greater cancer risk, the study found. Obesity-related cancers include cancers of the oesophagus (adenocarcinoma), gastric (cardia), colon, rectum, liver/intrahepatic bile ducts, gallbladder, pancreas, breast (postmenopausal), endometrium, ovary, renal cell carcinoma, meningioma, thyroid and multiple myeloma, the release stated. "BMI is a measure of body size, but does not provide information on fat distribution, whereas waist circumference is a proxy more closely related to abdominal adiposity." Overall, the researchers found waist circumference to be a more accurate cancer predictor than BMI. "BMI is a measure of body size, but does not provide information on fat distribution, whereas waist circumference is a proxy more closely related to abdominal adiposity," they wrote. "This distinction is crucial because visceral fat, which accumulates around the abdominal organs, is more metabolically active and has been implicated in adverse health outcomes, including insulin resistance, inflammation and abnormal blood fat levels. Consequently, individuals with similar BMIs may have distinct cancer risks due to differences in fat distribution." One potential reason for the gender discrepancy, according to the researchers, is that men are more likely to store fat viscerally (in the belly), while women generally accumulate more subcutaneous fat (under the skin) and peripheral fat (in the arms and legs). "Consequently, waist circumference is a more accurate measure of visceral fat in men than in women," the researchers wrote. "This may make waist circumference a stronger risk factor of cancer in men, and explain why waist circumference adds risk information beyond that conveyed by BMI in men, but not women." Excess body fat is also linked to higher insulin levels in men than in women, the researchers noted, which could be a factor in waist circumference being more strongly linked to men's cancer risk. "The divergence in how waist circumference and BMI relate to cancer risk between men and women underscores the complexity of the impact of adiposity (excess body fat) on cancer development," the researchers wrote. "It suggests that considering biological and physiological differences between the sexes might be helpful when assessing cancer risk. Further research is needed to explore these sex differences." They also suggested that combining hip circumference with waist circumference in women could give a more accurate estimation of visceral fat. Dr. Marc Siegel, clinical professor of medicine at NYU Langone Health and Fox News senior medical analyst, was not involved in the study, but reinforced that BMI is a "good indicator of obesity, but is not the only one." "Belly fat contains a lot of the inflammatory chemicals that act as carcinogens." "Obesity leads to inflammation, and inflammation correlates with many kinds of cancer, including breast and prostate and cancers of the gastrointestinal tract," he told Fox News Digital. "It is not surprising that waist circumference in men could be a more precise indicator if measured properly, because belly fat contains a lot of the inflammatory chemicals that act as carcinogens," the doctor noted. For women, where fat distribution is somewhat different, Siegel agrees that it "makes sense" to consider both waist and hip circumference, as the Swedish study suggests. "The study looks at over 300,000 people and is an important new reference, but it is observational, so it shows an association, but not proof," the doctor added. Dr. Brett Osborn, a Florida neurosurgeon and longevity expert, also detailed the different ways in which men and women store fat. "While women accumulate more subcutaneous fat — on the hips, thighs and buttocks — men pack it around the waist, deep inside the abdomen," Osborn, who was not involved in the study, told Fox News Digital. "This is visceral fat, and it's metabolically toxic. It's not just sitting there. It's active, like a gland, secreting inflammatory chemicals (cytokines), raising insulin levels, disrupting hormones and laying the groundwork for cancer cell growth." Osborn reiterated that BMI is limited in its ability to accurately measure excess fat. "First, BMI doesn't factor in muscle mass, so a short, stocky individual with a low body fat percentage may be categorized as overweight or obese, when in fact quite the opposite is true," he said. "Second, BMI doesn't tell you where the body fat is, and as it turns out, that's what's critical — at least in men." To reduce cancer risk, Osborn recommends that men measure their waistlines to ensure they're in a healthy range. People can also track their visceral fat score on a medical-grade anthropometry scale, he said. "Understand that belly fat isn't just cosmetic — it's carcinogenic." "Anything above 40 inches (102 cm) is a red flag," he told Fox News Digital. Strength training three times per week is ideal, the doctor advised, adding, "Resistance training reduces visceral fat and inflammation." For more Health articles, visit Proper nutrition is also important, he said. "Eat like your life depends on it — because it does. Stop feeding your cancer risk." "Understand that belly fat isn't just cosmetic — it's carcinogenic," Osborn added. "You may not feel it now, but the clock is ticking. Visceral fat is silent, aggressive and deadly — and it's doing damage even if your BMI is 'normal.'"
Los Angeles Times
22-03-2025
- Entertainment
- Los Angeles Times
‘She is Art': Artist expresses personality through paintings
Years after an abusive relationship, Karren Sager chose to express her artwork through quantum mechanics. Her painting 'She is Art' is inspired by engineer Deodatta V. Shenai-Khatkhate, who once wrote: 'I often think that when two Hearts fall in Love, they too enter the quantum entanglement, and influence each other despite their separation.' The painting contains a strong color contrast between the woman and the background; they are portrayed in a shaky and unconventional way. In a blue background with white spots, a woman with closed eyes and clasped hands opens her mouth with a stream of abstract patterns and lightning shapes next to it. This abstraction is quantum mechanics. 'So physics is fun. I enjoy reading about quantum mechanics and everything, and I read this quote,' said Sager, 42, a local Austin artist who operates under BoBnNoVa Art. 'I thought it was such a beautiful concept of love that had to drop.' The theme of the painting, as Sager described, is about women overcoming obstacles – straightforward and meaningful. During the painting process, she incorporates personal emotions and messages she wishes to convey. 'One of the things about leaving any relationship is about returning to yourself,' Sager said. 'Because you kind of become meshed with people that you are with, and they affect your emotions and your mind and your spirit.' According to Sager, working as a local artist in Austin is therapy. The Journal of the National Cancer Institute has reported that 72 percent of its participants had a significant reduction in anxiety after engaging in creative arts therapies. Sager, as an artist, has used paintings to reconcile a post-traumatic time. She said she recognized the individual differences when it comes to relationships, but one's own relationship is the ultimate important factor to prioritize. 'But I think if you find a partner, and it doesn't matter, girl, boy, whatever, that you can connect with and share and have the ability for each person to take care of their own things,' Sager said. 'Because if you have two people that are good at the exact same thing, and they're on top of each other trying to beat each other all the time. That doesn't make a relationship.' Sager's other works range from landscapes to animal portraits, all in abstract form. She's also into boots: boots organized in a storage box, a boot topped with a cake, a cowboy boot with a UFO beaming up a cow. Sager said these connect with her because this quirkiness is her personality. 'It's okay to just be yourself,' she said. 'And it doesn't have to be like this crazy thing.' Related
Yahoo
12-03-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Wildfires are complicating cancer care: Study
Wildfires and other climate-induced weather extremes are posing an increased threat to cancer patients by shifting their treatment trajectories and access to care, a new study has determined. Patients recovering from lung cancer surgery within an active wildfire zone required longer hospital stays than those in areas that had no such blazes, scientists reported in the study, published on Wednesday in the Journal of the National Cancer Institute. These lengthier stays could be due to the reluctance of health care providers to discharge patients to a hazardous environment, housing instability or safety issues — or due to the unavailability of routine post-op care, staff shortages or shuttered rehab centers, according to the study. 'There are currently no guidelines for protecting the health and safety of patients recovering from lung cancer surgery during wildfires in the United States,' lead author Leticia Nogueira, scientific director of health services research at the American Cancer Society, said in a statement. 'In the absence of guidelines, clinicians might resort to improvisational strategies,' Nogueira added, noting that doing so serves to 'better protect the health and safety of patients during wildfires.' The complex nature of post-operative recovery from lung cancer procedures coupled with wildfire disasters pose considerable threats to patient health, beyond exposure to smoke, the authors stressed. For example, they pointed to factors like water and soil contamination, evacuation orders while handling mobility and cognitive challenges, disruptions in pharmacy and grocery hours and changes in transportation accessibility. Nogueira and her colleagues studied data available via the National Cancer Database for individuals 18 years or older who received a lobectomy or pneumonectomy for stages 1 to 3 lung cancer between 2004 and 2021. They then evaluated differences between the length of stay for wildfire-exposed patients — those hospitalized in a Presidential Disaster Declaration area between the dates of surgery and discharge — and unexposed patients treated at the same facility during a non-disaster period. The results revealed that patients exposed to a wildfire disaster had hospital stays that were on average two days longer: 9.4 days in comparison to 7.5 days. That two-day difference, which applied to patients across all stages of cancer, could take a toll on U.S. health care systems, as hospital stays nationwide cost about $1,500 per day, according to the study. As climate change continues to intensify and extend wildfire season, the researchers urged health care institutions to adapt and improve their clinical and disaster preparedness strategies for specific patient populations. These tactics, the authors continued, must also account for environmental influences. 'This study is just the tip of the iceberg showing how extreme weather may be impacting patients with chronic illnesses,' senior author Amruta Nori-Sarma, deputy director of the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health's Center for Climate Health and the Global Environment, said in a statement. 'As the wildfire season gets longer and more intense, and wildfires start affecting broader swathes of the U.S. population, health care providers need to be ready with updated guidance that best protects their patients' health,' Nori-Sarma added. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
The Hill
12-03-2025
- Health
- The Hill
Wildfires are complicating cancer care: Study
Wildfires and other climate-induced weather extremes are posing an increased threat to cancer patients by shifting their treatment trajectories and access to care, a new study has determined. Patients recovering from lung cancer surgery within an active wildfire zone required longer hospital stays than those in areas that had no such blazes, scientists reported in the study, published on Wednesday in the Journal of the National Cancer Institute. These lengthier stays could be due to the reluctance of healthcare providers to discharge patients to a hazardous environment, housing instability or safety issues — or due to the unavailability of routine post-op care, staff shortages or shuttered rehab centers, according to the study. 'There are currently no guidelines for protecting the health and safety of patients recovering from lung cancer surgery during wildfires in the United States,' lead author Leticia Nogueira, scientific director of health services research at the American Cancer Society, said in a statement. 'In the absence of guidelines, clinicians might resort to improvisational strategies,' Nogueira added, noting that doing so serves to 'better protect the health and safety of patients during wildfires.' The complex nature of post-operative recovery from lung cancer procedures coupled with wildfire disasters pose considerable threats to patient health, beyond exposure to smoke, the authors stressed. For example, they pointed to factors like water and soil contamination, evacuation orders while handling mobility and cognitive challenges, disruptions in pharmacy and grocery hours and changes in transportation accessibility. Nogueira and her colleagues studied data available via the National Cancer Database for individuals 18 years or older who received a lobectomy or pneumonectomy for stages 1 to 3 lung cancer between 2004 and 2021. They then evaluated differences between the length of stay for wildfire-exposed patients — those hospitalized in a Presidential Disaster Declaration area between the dates of surgery and discharge — and unexposed patients treated at the same facility during a non-disaster period. The results revealed that patients exposed to a wildfire disaster had hospital stays that were on average two days longer: 9.4 days in comparison to 7.5 days. That two-day difference, which applied to patients across all stages of cancer, could take a toll on U.S. healthcare systems, as hospital stays nationwide cost about $1,500 per day, according to the study. As climate change continues to intensify and extend wildfire season, the researchers urged healthcare institutions to adapt and improve their clinical and disaster preparedness strategies for specific patient populations. These tactics, the authors continued, must also account for environmental influences. 'This study is just the tip of the iceberg showing how extreme weather may be impacting patients with chronic illnesses,' senior author Amruta Nori-Sarma, deputy director of the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health's Center for Climate Health and the Global Environment, said in a statement. 'As the wildfire season gets longer and more intense, and wildfires start affecting broader swathes of the U.S. population, health care providers need to be ready with updated guidance that best protects their patients' health,' Nori-Sarma added.
