Cancer risk is a small part of the broad spectrum of men’s health issues. Let’s face it, the male sex is notorious for ignoring warning symptoms, taking lifestyle risks, and avoiding doctor visits. Furthermore, our culture promotes “manly” stereotypes that have implications for diet (e.g., eat red meat, drink beer), mental health (e.g., “stuff” your feelings), and social relationships (e.g., fear of commitment).

Obesity and cancer risk

This blog focuses on cancer risk as related to nutrition. I have posted numerous blogs on the benefits of anti-inflammatory diets such as the Mediterranean Diet that can help reduce the risk of prostate cancer. In addition, nutrition plans that de-emphasize the fast-food, refined-food, red meat and sugary pitfalls of unhealthy U.S. eating habits help to cut down on obesity.

We know that being overweight contributes to cardiovascular disease and diabetes. But did you know that obesity is linked with 13 types of cancer? The scary list includes cancers of the esophagus, gastric cardia, colon/rectum, liver, gallbladder, pancreas, breast (postmenopausal), uterus, ovary, kidney, meningioma, thyroid, and multiple myeloma.^[i] The clear implication is that preventing or reversing obesity reduces the likelihood of obesity-related cancers.

Here some obesity facts from the Centers for Disease Control (CDC):

• The prevalence of obesity was 42.4% in 2017~2018.
• From 1999–2000 through 2017–2018, the prevalence of obesity increased from 30.5% to 42.4%, and the prevalence of severe obesity increased from 4.7% to 9.2%.
• The estimated annual medical cost of obesity in the United States was $147 billion in 2008 US dollars; the medical cost for people who have obesity was $1,429 higher than those of normal weight.

Sugar: a big culprit

While many dietary and lifestyle factors promote weight gain, especially deadly organ fat, one of the biggest dietary downfalls is added sugar. This comes in processed foods and drinks in the form of refined sugar and corn syrup. In contrast to natural sugars found in unprocessed foods like fruit, certain grains, vegetables and dairy, added sugar has little to no nutritional value. Instead, it feeds what might well be called our national sugar addiction. According to a Rutgers University blog,

The average American consumes 17 teaspoons (71.14 grams) of sugars per day – more than three times WHO’s recommended standard! Part of the blame must be placed on America’s wealth of sugary food options, some capable of fooling even the health-conscious consumer. One cup of Dannon Low-Fat Vanilla Yogurt, for example, contains a soul-crushing 34 grams of sugar.

Food warning labels

We’ve all seen food products labeled “No Added Sugar”, usually designed in a reasonably attention-getting way. However, this does not mean it has no sugar since, as with canned fruit, it may contain natural sugars. Likewise, “Sugar Free” is not a guarantee of zero sugar, since manufacturers are allowed to have up to 0.5 grams of sugar per serving and still use that label.

Studies show that food warning labels designed to get attention do help consumer awareness, and can help people make healthier choices. Consumer surveys find that people generally favor the use of such labels. The problem is, it’s hard to legislate this. Large corporations that depend on the American appetite for fats and sweets for their profit margin are resistant to safety or warning labels on foods.

Perhaps news about the April, 2021 Journal of the American Medical Association published article could help redirect awareness about the importance of printing added-sugar labeling in the Nutrition Facts information on the packaging of such foods and beverages. The authors of “Cost-effectiveness Analysis of Nutrition Facts Added-Sugar Labeling and Obesity-Associated Cancer Rates in the US” write that the impact of such a policy would be linked with 30,000 fewer new obesity-related cancer cases, 17,100 fewer cancer deaths, and a savings of $1600 million in medical costs among US adults over a lifetime. It would ultimately net savings of $704 million from a societal perspective and $1590 million from a health care perspective.^[ii]

To be sure, the merits of this paper apply equally to women as well as men. There is no doubt that sweets are universally appealing, whether candy at the check-out line, dessert on the restaurant menu, the local donut/ice cream shops, etc. Tempting goodies face us all daily, and go down our throats all too easily. But the astonishing savings in lives and medical dollars should tempt us even more. When it comes to preventing obesity-related cancers, we can do better.

NOTE: This content is solely for purposes of information and does not substitute for diagnostic or medical advice. Talk to your doctor if you are experiencing pelvic pain, or have any other health concerns or questions of a personal medical nature.

[i] Lauby-Secretan B, Scoccianti C, Loomis D, Grosse Y et al. Body Fatness and Cancer — Viewpoint of the IARC Working Group. N Engl J Med. 2016 Aug 25; 375(8): 794–798.
[ii] Du M, Griecci CF, Cudhea FF, Eom H et al. Cost-effectiveness Analysis of Nutrition Facts Added-Sugar Labeling and Obesity-Associated Cancer Rates in the US. JAMA Netw Open. 2021 Apr 1;4(4):e217501.