to point out it is more likely for cancer to cause obesity than for obesity to cause cancer

[Nimbostratus100]

Cos I am so sick of smug ignoramuses being so superior and judgemental.

I was not overweight until I had cancer. I had a MBI of 22 until I had to start taking massive continuous doses of steroids alongside chemotherapy.

Obesity is a medical problem, Obesity does cause health problems. Obesity is a contributing factor to some cancers. The WHO estimates obesity is a contributary factor in around 3-4% of cancers. That all. And there is no way of knowing which individual cancers, that is a population level estimate. And it is a contributary factor, not a cause.

So can we ditch this attitude of "o well, you did this to yourself" every time people come across a fat person with cancer.

Thank you

This is an interesting article regarding cancer and obesity.

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5830139/

The other thing about some cancers is that it is proven that exercise after diagnosis can improve survival and tolerance to treatment. So increasingly people with cancer are being offered exercise and nutrition programs. This is not a judgement on their weight/lifestyle/motivation but part of their treatment.

Steroids also make you gain weight, so not necessarily the cancer that 'causes obesity'.

I am pointing out to you that any fat people with cancer you meat are more likely to be fat because they have cancer, rather than have cancer because they are fat
Rubbish statement

We shouldn't judge or blame people for getting ill but we also shouldn't pretend that factors related to lifestyle are not relevant to illness just to be kind.

What is the point in pretending type 2 diabetes is not related to obesity in many cases? It is something that is in the control of many people. Not all, obviously, as some people are obese because of medical conditions. But if there are lifestyle factors, people should be aware of them.

The relationship between obesity and cancer is clearly complex. However the fact that there is a higher correlation of overweight and cancer diagnosis in Western countries, suggests there is likely to be a causation, as there is more obesity here. I don't see how pretending that is not the case helps anyone.

It doesn't mean that everyone with cancer is overweight or that if people who are overweight with cancer it does not follow that their cancer is caused by their size. It does however mean that it is one factor many of us can control in trying to prevent illness.

Having the time and resources and good health to be able to eat clean and exercise means you are privileged. It does not mean you are morally superior.

My view is that we should never judge when we see a person who appears unfit, overweight, out of shape whatever. There is a story behind every body. Slim and fit is a privilege. And luck.

The point you are making is steroids can seriously impact your ability to keep to a reasonable weight. My best friend had acute kidney failure/sepsis and was put on steroids, despite not being able to eat for almost a month without being sick and loosing almost 2 stone her weight ballooned by almost 4 stone after due to the effect of the steroids. She's lost 2 stone, but never quite managed to get back to pre-steroid weight.
Nothing to do with cancer. It's the steroids.

Well, I'm not sure I totally agree- don't judge yes, but you don't have to buy chia seeds and expensive food to lose weight and walking is perfectly fine exercise.

You don't have to eat clean to maintain a healthy weight though, you can eat whatever as long as you maintain a calorie deficit.

@Stugs I can't walk. Not unless I'm in a pool. That's why I get pip.

But I’m pretty sure that the vast majority of people who are overweight basically eat too much ie more than they’re burning off.

I’m changing my mind about that, the vast majority of people I know who are morbidly obese have obvious issues that have caused this (some of them following cancer diagnosis and treatment) Yes they eat too much, but this is a symptom rather than the problem itself, but most of the time this is not acknowledged at all. If you’re fat and at the drs you’re considered to be a lazy overeater with no willpower, even if it’s clearly known that the obesity had a medical cause, and even if the dr is being kind while they tell you you’re fat.

I am morbidly obese, I was diagnosed as diabetic, put on metformin and dropped 2 stone in a month - until I was on a drug that supported leptin and insulin I didn’t realise that I never felt full, so I fully consider that my obesity is down to a medical issue that went undiagnosed for decades because it’s easier to diagnose someone as fat than to look for an underlying cause.

I hear you and I can only speak for myself and my own experience of life, which is that I'm fit and able to run daily and eat well now, BECAUSE I am fortunate enough that my mental and physical health is good right now and I am earning well.

These things have not always been the case in my life and my body reflected it. Mental ill health, abusive relationships, addiction, lack of money and time can all seriously impact one's ability to prepare / buy good food or even to go for a walk...if you've been there you know.

Don't judge is all i would say.

Yep like you could choose to have your 1000 calories (or whatever you set yourself) in sweeties or wine or pastry, remain slim and still have health issues. But it's ok because you don't look fat!

There are many women for whom this isn’t the case. Hormone imbalance, stress, menopause, all can affect weight and how well or efficiently you can lose weight.

I ate at a calorie deficit for months at one point in a bid to lose weight, I lost 6 pounds in total, it took around 4-5 months, then weight started creeping on, I was strict (and starving and miserable).

Calorie deficit does not work for all, and when it doesn’t it’s used as yet another stick to beat women with because we’re obviously lying about what we’re eating.

I was responding to the suggestion that you must be able to afford to eat clean to be a healthy weight which is untrue.

I'm not sure of the exact stats and I guess it's very difficult to separate correlation from cause, however your title is misleading. Cancer is more likely to cause weight loss. Chemotherapy may well cause weight gain (steroids are well know for increasing appetite and giving you a puffy face). I'd also say the majority of obese people are overweight because they take in more calories than they need.
I often hear people say they have put on weight because they can't exercise (illness, age, trauma etc)....then they need to eat less. For the majority of people it really is that simple however simple is not easy.
In a round about way you are actually judging yourself. It's as if you're saying "Yes, lm overweight, but it's not my fault. I'm not one of the geedy/lazy/undisciplined people."
I think obesity is a very complex matter and we (medical and lay person) are only just appreciating how big a part psychology pays.
When I see someone overweight I generally think "l wonder if you're unhappy and what brought you to this point".

Carrying excess weight puts extra stress on the body regardless of any other issues caused by diet, so yes ideally to be a healthy weight and healthy overall a diet compromised mainly of fresh, unprocessed foods is ideal; but the post was insinuating that you'd only be able to be a healthy weight if you could afford to eat clean which isn't true. We need to separate how fat looks to the effect is has on people.

Op all the information I have received over the years has said the opposite to you what you have, so far I have not seen any evidence that is so secret that doctors and the medical world are keeping hidden or are not aware about

I presume the world would know if you are right?

In the UK obesity is the second biggest cause of cancer.

Separate to that, steroids are shit and the weight gain on them is also shit.

https://www.cancerresearchuk.org/about-cancer/causes-of-cancer/bodyweight-and-cancer/how-does-obesity-cause-cancer#:~:text=Overweight%20and%20obesity%20is%20the,13%20different%20types%20of%20cancer.

I was going to say this.
The UK has a tiny population compared to the rest of the world.
The UK is fatter than the majority of the world.
The majority of cancers happen outwith the UK.
Therefore, someone like the WORLD health organisations data - taking into account the whole world - is not necessarily true in a “fat” country like the UK.

Steroids cause massive weight gain. Everyone I know who are on them, are now severely overweight.

I can only speak for myself. I lost quite a bit of weight during chemo and radiation therapy as I was too sick to eat for several weeks.

What did distress me was people saying how ‘great’ I looked. I didn’t look great, I looked fucking horrible and sick, I was just skinny.

In a round about way you are actually judging yourself. It's as if you're saying "Yes, lm overweight, but it's not my fault. I'm not one of the geedy/lazy/undisciplined people.

That’s exactly how it comes across.

Anyone who implies that it’s an individual’s own fault they have cancer, rather than bad luck, is obviously a twat.

That doesn’t negate the fact that obesity is never healthy, and is a major preventable risk factor for cancer, as well as many other diseases. We can all reduce our risk of getting cancer substantially by having a healthy lifestyle, but we obviously can’t reduce the risk to zero, and fit and slim people get cancer all the time.

I don’t think it’s helpful to assume obesity is entirely an individual responsibility though. We have chosen to order society and plan towns and cities so that it’s easy to be sedentary, and ultra processed, highly calorific foods are cheap and easily available. We can choose to change this, so we all lead healthier lives, but it requires government action to change policies, individuals and the NHS can’t do it.

I am pointing out to you that any fat people with cancer you meat are more likely to be fat because they have cancer, rather than have cancer because they are fat

absolute nonsense I'm afraid, most people you meet who have cancer and are fat were fat before cancer. That doesn't mean it caused their cancer (you'd have no way of knowing though).

Being overweight is not healthy in anyway and causes or initiates so many other underlying health issues.
Of course not everyone overweight can help it but in general it is caused but poor eating habits, an unhealthy diet and a sedentary lifestyle.
Obesity levels have accelerated across the Western world as diets have become more calorific and highly processed, jobs less labour intensive and lifestyles less and active. Look at the latest generation zipping about on e-scooters rather than expending energy.
The NHS is groaning under a population who have made poor lifestyle choices that have compounded their overall health.
Of course many ailments are not just from lifestyle but hereditary genes too but being healthy gives you a fighting chance.
OP I'm well aware of the affect steroids have on metabolism in your case but I'm sure you can request assistance from a hospital dietician to help you control you weight alongside your treatment and recovery back to good health.