Daily HealthBeat Tip - January 25, 2007

Weighted odds

From the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, I'm Ira Dreyfuss with HHS HealthBeat.

Weighing way too much may tilt the odds against a colon cancer patient. A study finds that, even after successful medical treatment, obese patients had a greater risk that the cancer would return – and that they could die.

James Dignam of the University of Chicago looked over data on close to 4,300 patients. The study in the Journal of the National Cancer Institute was supported by the institute.

"Very obese individuals – that is, those with body mass index 35 or greater – had about a 40 percent greater risk of colon cancer recurrence." (9 seconds)

It'll take more work to figure out exactly what's going on. So Dignam can't be sure if obese people can lower their risk by losing weight. But he says weight control is a good idea, and worth trying for good health in general.

Learn more at www.hhs.gov.

HHS HealthBeat is a production of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. I'm Ira Dreyfuss.

Last revised: January, 25 2007