Weight loss surgery reduces skin cancer risk

According to a recent study, individuals with obesity who undergo weight loss surgery have a reduced risk of developing skin cancer, including melanoma.

Share on PinterestA recent study finds more evidence that obesity increases the risk of developing melanoma.

Skin cancer is the most common form of cancer in the United States.

Melanoma accounts for just 1% of skin cancer cases, but it causes the majority of deaths from this type of disease.

There are an estimated 96,480 new melanoma diagnoses each year in the United States, and according to the authors of a recent study, the rates of malignant melanoma are rising faster than those of any other cancer.

In the U.S. there were 8,650 deaths due to melanoma in 2009 — and despite improved treatments and better 5-year survival rates, there were around 10,130 deaths from this cause in 2016.

Although scientists have identified risk factors associated with melanoma, such as fair skin, family history, and sun exposure, it is not clear why incidence rates are rising.

Because obesity is a risk factor for certain cancers, some researchers have asked whether it might also raise melanoma risk. However, to date, studies have failed to find a clear-cut association.

Revisiting old data

A Swedish study from 2009 found that women with obesity who undergo bariatric surgery have a reduced risk of cancer. When the results were published, there was not enough data to assess whether weight loss surgery impacted skin cancer risk, specifically.

However, researchers have continued to follow the participants in the original study, now for an average of 18.1 years. A team recently revisited the dataset in an effort to "investigate the association between bariatric surgery and skin cancer, including melanoma."

In total, the new analysis included data from 2,007 individuals with obesity who underwent bariatric surgery and 2,040 matched control participants who had obesity but who only received conventional treatment, such as lifestyle advice, at their primary healthcare centers. The scientists recently published their findings in the journal JAMA Dermatology.

Individuals in the bariatric surgery group, at the 15-year follow-up, had lost an average of 47.6 pounds (21.6 kilograms). Those in the control group had remained at a relatively constant weight, with an average loss or gain that never exceeded 6.6 pounds (3 kilograms).

Overall, 23 individuals in the surgery group had developed malignant skin cancer — squamous cell carcinoma or malignant melanoma. In the control group, 45 individuals had developed this type of disease.

The researchers found that the largest difference between the two groups concerned malignant melanoma. In the control group, there were 29 cases of the disease, while in the surgery group, there were just 12 cases. This equates to a 57% reduction in malignant melanoma risk.

"This provides further evidence for a connection between obesity and malignant skin cancer and for the view that we should regard obesity as a risk factor for these forms of cancer."

First author Magdalena Taube, Ph.D.

Why does obesity increase risk?

Scientists will need to carry out more research to understand the mechanisms that underpin the relationship between obesity and skin cancer. However, the authors outline several factors that could be involved.

One theory concerns inflammation; they explain that "Obesity leads to chronic systemic inflammation, which could provide a permissive environment for tumor growth."

Lifestyle factors, such as changes to diet following surgery, might also help explain this link.

Similarly, obesity is associated with a sedentary lifestyle — itself linked with increased cancer incidence and mortality. Following bariatric surgery, individuals may increase their levels of physical activity, thereby reducing cancer risk.

The current study has a number of strengths, including the long follow-up duration and the use of matched controls. However, there are also certain limitations; for instance, the scientists did not use randomization.

In an ideal world, it is best to assign participants to the control or experimental groups randomly. For this study, it was not possible, primarily because when the study began in the 1980s, the mortality rate for weight loss surgery was relatively high, so randomization would have been unethical.

It is also worth noting that, although the melanoma rates between the two groups were significantly different, the overall number of cases was small — in total, there were just 41 cases of melanoma. Scientists will need to continue this line of investigation to gather more evidence. For now, the authors conclude:

"These findings suggest that melanoma incidence is significantly reduced in patients with obesity after bariatric surgery and may lead to a better understanding of melanoma and preventable risk factors."

Kate Hudson Says She's Committing To A Weight-Loss Diet To Lose 10 Pounds In The New Year

Kate Hudson said she's trying to lose 10 pounds in the New Year.

She weighed herself on Instagram stories and revealed she currently weighs 136 pounds.

She says her ideal weight is 125 pounds.

Kate Hudson is taking her Instagram followers along for the ride on her New Year's wellness journey. "It's January 2nd, 2020," she said in an Instagram Story posted yesterday. "Got on the scale. I wasn't impressed. But that's okay, 'cause I know how to do this, you know what I mean?"

The Weight Watchers spokesperson then talked about the program's new color-coded plans (she's a purple), before weighing in at 136. "Ideal weight for me: 125," she wrote, "10 to go."

After giving birth to her daughter Rani Rose in 2018, Kate posted on Instagram about her goal to lose 25 pounds by the spring. "Unlike with the other two [kids], I didn't really have time to work out," she told Women's Health in our December cover story. "It took a different kind of discipline." These days, that discipline manifests in the form of a balanced diet, something she said comes from her partnership with Weight Watchers.

Kate starts her day with celery juice, plus either a protein shake, oatmeal, an acai bowl, or eggs. She likes to keep her meals plant-based, so squash or zucchini noodles are on rotation, which sometimes she spices up with chicken, fish, or steak. (Yesterday, she made shrimp with sherry vinegar and garlic.)

Still, she makes time to work out three or four times a week, alternating between Peloton Tread, pole dancing, Body by Simone, Beachbody Brazil Butt Lift classes, and private Pilates sessions with instructor Nicole Stuart. Pilates is still her favorite, she said: "I love how flexible I get and what it does to the shape of my body."

Everything You Need to Know About Our 15-Minute Weight-Loss Workouts

We live in an age of hacks, short cuts and promises of instant results. Nowhere is that more evident than in the fitness-crazed month that marks the beginning of a new year and the hope of a fresh start.

Crowds of people duly throw themselves headfirst into a workout programme to burn off the flab that has been slowly accruing over the previous 12 months. That plan is almost invariably beyond them – too hard physically, too tough mentally and, after no more than a couple of weeks, too much of a scheduling commitment. In most cases, the game is up before February.

If that sounds uncomfortably familiar, we're here with a bold new approach. With the January/February issue of Men's Health UK, you'll also receive a booklet of 31 workouts, all of which can all be completed in 15 minutes – a quarter of what most people would consider "a good session". The aim of this guide is not to circumvent hard work. In fact, you may work harder, cull more calories and shift more timber than ever before. (Continued below)

Burn Fat In Your Own Front Room

For those crunched for time, equipment or even access to a gym, these bodyweight sessions can be completed at home, in hotel rooms or anywhere you want to turbocharge your metabolism.

Crush Flab With Dumbbells

Armed with only the most basic piece of exercise equipment, this is how to send your calorie burn sky-rocketing and add functional muscle in the process. Your belly's resistance is futile.

Hardcore Metcons

With the range of kit available in an average gym, you can go hard. But that doesn't mean going long. Our intense 15-minute circuits will make elite conditioning a plausible part of your daily routine.

Build Your Own Plan

Each session in the guide is categorised: total body, upper, lower, push, pull. Follow the table in the guide according to how much time you have to train and you can assemble a sequence that allows for maximum work and adequate recovery.

By removing the demand on that most stretched of commodities – time – you are left with a realistic resource for daily output. Each workout is designed for readily available equipment, from bodyweight sessions you can do anywhere to simple gym-based workouts and dumbbell combinations for a lunch-break fix. All you need is 15 minutes and the will to use each minute to the fullest.

To put our metabolic money where our mouths are, we will be posting a video of each of these workouts for every one of the 31 days of January on our Instagram: @menshealthuk. Sweat along with us each day, or choose your own fat-burning adventure by constructing your personal plan. Alternatively, just dip in whenever you need a fast session, or find yourself limited in space, equipment or inspiration. Whatever your why, we have the way.

Here's what we've published so far:

You'll find the 15-Minute Weight-Loss Workout book in the new January/February 2020 issue of Men's Health UK, out now.

Like this article? Sign up to our newsletter to get more articles like this delivered straight to your inbox.

SIGN UP

Edward Cooper Ed Cooper is the Deputy Digital Editor at Men's Health UK, writing and editing about anything you want to know about — from tech to fitness, mental health to style, food and so much more.

Real Talk: Does Pooping Affect Weight Loss?

Anyone who has ever hit the bathroom at Target or Barnes & Noble to emerge a new person has probably wondered (beyond "What is it about this place?") whether pooping actually affects weight loss.

It's a fair question. A nice, productive poop (I think you know what I'm talking about without me having to describe) can make you feel lighter and leaner and more comfortable in your jeans. Being "stuck" (a.k.a. constipated) makes you feel...the opposite. But is that lighter feeling after pooping real?

Turns out, it can be—but only a bit, says Mitzi Dulan, RD, author of The Pinterest Diet. "It's actually fairly simple," she says. "Depending on your size and how regular you are, your poop can vary from one to four pounds. It's likely to be on the higher end if you haven't pooped for a few days."

Wait...how much does poop weigh?

If you're thinking, "Four pounds, seriously?!" I get it...that's not exactly a small amount if you're struggling to lose weight. But you have to remember that your poo is made up of some pretty heavy stuff: Specifically, it's about 75 percent water, per UMass Memorial Healthcare, with the rest being composed of bacteria, mucous, dead blood cells, and duh, food remains.

That said, you have to think big picture here. Even four pounds isn't a significant amount of weight at the end of the day, since the number on the scale will consistently swing up and down as your bowel movements do. In other words, when you're backed up, your weight will increase a bit, and after you relieve yourself, it'll drop.

Either way, pooping won't affect your weight in any huge way—even if it does feel like you just dropped 10 pounds. That amazing feeling is more about de-bloating than actual loss of body mass. Sorry!

Oh, tell me more about weight loss versus de-bloating.

Bloating is that awful, uncomfortable, full feeling that strikes when your digestive system has trapped air or gas inside it, and it can be downright painful, not to mention make you look puffy AF. Even though your stomach might appear bigger when you're bloated, bloating doesn't necessarily mean you've gained actual weight (in terms of body mass).

"Pooping can reduce bloating and help you fit more comfortably in your clothes so you feel smaller overall," says Dulan. "It's not like after you poop you should be saying, 'This is my new weight!'"

"Pooping can reduce bloating and help you fit more comfortably in your clothes so you feel smaller..."

If you're trying to track weight loss, Dulan suggests weighing yourself at similar times in the morning, sans clothes, to avoid letting your poops (or lack thereof) trick the scale. "If you have to go to the bathroom, go ahead because it will lower the scale a little bit," she says. "But if you don't need to poop, don't sit on the toilet trying to go so you weigh less. It won't be a substantial difference."

Ah, so what affects my ability to poop?

While the direct connection between pooping and weight loss is minimal (again, sorry!), there is one aspect of the link that you can use to your benefit: "Eating a diet that's higher in fiber causes you to not only be more regular, but it can also help you lose weight," says Brigitte Zeitlin, MPH, RD, a nutritionist at B Nutritious.

32 High-Fiber Snacks That'll Keep You Full

How so? Stocking up on enough fiber throughout your day helps push food through your system to avoid constipation before it starts. "It actually stimulates your GI tract to promote movement," says Zeitlin. Beyond that, a high-fiber diet may help ward off certain cancers, especially that of the colon, and help regulate blood sugar and reduce cholesterol, studies show.

And when it comes to your weight, fiber fills you up like few nutrients can. "Fiber is found in three things: fruits, vegetables, and whole grains," says Zeitlin. "If you're incorporating fiber at every meal and snack, you're making sure you're eating one of these fabulous foods that promote weight loss and a healthy lifestyle. In addition, you're probably removing other things that aren't as great [from your diet]."Speaking of things that aren't as great for your diet, here's how J.Lo and A-Rod pulled off a no-sugar challenge:

That said, don't overdo it on the F word: Zeitlin recommends women aim for 25 to 30 grams of fiber per day, because getting much more than that can not only constipate you but cause other GI distress symptoms, too.

According to Duke University, regularly consuming more than 70 grams of fiber may lead to bloating, gas, diarrhea, cramps, and a decrease in appetite. Eating too much fiber can also limit nutrient absorption and even cause intestinal blockages (that's pretty serious stuff).

To get a healthy amount of fiber every day, try having a cup of a high-fiber food as part of your breakfast, like a cup of berries with Greek yogurt (it's high in probiotics, which "promote healthy GI bacteria to help move things along," says Zeitlin). You should also aim to eat two fistfuls of veggies at both lunch and dinner to keep your digestive system—and your weight—as regular as possible.

Oh, and don't forget about all the other stuff you do all day that affects how often you poop (fiber is just one piece of the puzzle!). As WH previously reported, you might find yourself pooping less frequently if you:

don't drink enough water

forget to manage your stress levels

change your schedule or travel frequently (hi, vacation constipation)

experience hormonal changes (thanks to PMS, pregnancy, or menopause)

take certain OTC or prescription medications

change up your diet or caloric intake

don't engage in regular physical activity

Of course, the reverse of all these factors is true, too; some medications can make you poop more often, as can your overall activity/hydration/caffeine levels. It's all one big balancing act.

So how do I find my "normal"?

If you're hoping for an exact number of bowel movements that's considered "healthy" or "normal," so sorry (gosh, I keep apologizing here). There is no one number, because the range of normal varies from person to person. Anywhere from three times a day to once every three days is generally considered healthy, so as long as you fall somewhere along that spectrum (and aren't experiencing anything painful or out of the ordinary), you're good.

9 Reasons Why You're Pooping Way More Than Usual

11 Reasons It Hurts So Bad When You Poop

Now, if you are experiencing something painful or out of the ordinary, you should contact your doctor. Depending on the issue, he or she may refer you to a gastroenterologist. According to Penn Medicine, having the following symptoms for any extended period of time (i.e. more than a few days) warrants a phone call or visit:

consistently off-colored poop (like pale, red, or black stool) or color changes not related to new dietary habits

sudden changes to the frequency of your bowel movements

bloody stool

severe abdominal pain while pooping

poop that floats (which can be a sign of infection)

poop that smells unusual or especially odorous

The bottom line? It's important to know that a slowdown in your regular bathroom habits may make you feel like you've gained a bunch of weight, but that's really not the case. A combination of bloating and discomfort—along with a couple extra pounds of poop—can make the situation seem more dire than it actually is.

When you do finally go, you'll feel lighter than air...but you'll still only weigh a leeeettle less than before. So if weight loss is your goal, you'll need to think outside the bathroom—good thing WH is here for that!

Sarah Bradley Sarah Bradley is a freelancer writer from Connecticut, where she lives with her husband and three sons.

Lose Weight While You Sleep With These Weight Loss Pills At Amazon

Men's Journal aims to feature only the best products and services. We update when possible, but deals expire and prices can change. If you buy something via one of our links, we may earn a commission. Questions? Reach us at shop@mensjournal.com.

People love to set themselves a resolution to lose weight every New Year. It's probably the most popular kind of resolution. But people tend to fall off their goals after a few weeks. Real-life comes drops on you and it can be hard to keep at it all the time. But with the MAV Nutrition Weight Loss Pills, you can keep on the weight loss plan at any time.

With the MAV Nutrition Weight Loss Pills, you can lose weight at any time. Especially when you go to sleep at night. Everybody needs to sleep and those hours of the night are clearly a dead zone for weight loss. But with these pills, the body will burn fat while you sleep to keep you burning at all times.

The way to get the best results from the MAV Nutrition Weight Loss Pills is to take them after your last meal and to have done a workout at night before heading to bed. That way the body is fully primed for the pills. While your sleeping, it won't just burn fat. It will help your body recover from the workout and give you a more restful sleep so you are at tip-top shape in the morning.

Amazon

These MAV Nutrition Weight Loss Pills are also great because it is made with all-natural ingredients. Nothing synthetic that will harm your body. Melatonin, L-Theanine, and L-Tryptophan are used to help aid in the sleep process. Green Coffee Beans are used to stifle any late-night hunger. All of this combines to help your body recover from a workout and to increase thermogenesis, which enhances your metabolism which in turn causes you to burn fat while you sleep.

Losing weight can be a full-time job. But it doesn't have to take over your entire life with the right tools at your disposal. And the MAV Nutrition Weight Loss Pills are a great tool. Get a better night's rest and burn fat while you sleep, all the while repairing your body after a late-night workout. What can be better than that?

Get It: Pick up the MAV Nutrition Weight Loss Pills ($22) at Amazon

Get it!

Check out the great products and gear we recommend to Men's Journal readers

For access to exclusive gear videos, celebrity interviews, and more, subscribe on YouTube!

Buttigieg Donor Pushed For Federal Weight Loss Program Called 'Cash For Fatties'

KEY POINTS

A high-level Buttigieg donor wrote a blog for Huffington Post in 2009 entitled "Cash for Fatties", in which she pushed for the government to pay people to lose weight

Her language is now being pegged as insensitive by Republicans and Democrats, alike

She has donated at least $25,000 to Buttigieg's campaign

An entertainment executive, who has been one of South Bend Mayor Pete Buttigieg's most ardent financial supporters once asked the federal government to create government-subsidized weight loss program called "Cash for Fatties."

Wendy Wanderman, who raised $25,000 for Buttigieg's 2020 bid wrote a Huffington Post blog in 2009, in which she proposed the government offer a program in which people are paid to lose weight. Under the program, enrollees in weight loss programs like Weight Watchers, would have it paid for by the government. If they lose a significant amount of weight, the government  woukd pay them a fee, with an additional payment to those who keep the weight off after six months or a year. 

Wanderman also served on former President Barack Obama's National Finance Committee, Politico reports.

Many are speculating that Wanderman's comments may be viewed as tone deaf or insensitive. Her argument is based on the assertion that blue states have thinner populations, who will ultimately have to end up paying the healthcare costs of the nation's obese population.

 A Republican strategist with ties to a GOP senator said he was "offended by the stupidity" of the "Cash for Fatties" idea, and skeptical of the assertion that the nation could buy its way out of the obesity crisis. 

On the other side of the aisle, a Democratic operative was more measured with their criticism: "I definitely think it's offensive. Can we blame Pete for someone who's associated with him? Yes and no." The operative went on to say that in the current climate, where everything matters, the importance of words must be elevated even more, particularly when they can be viewed as insensitive to constituencies.

As the Democratic primary field becomes increasingly narrow, candidates must brace for closer scrutiny of their high-profile donors. The Buttigieg campaign, in particular has come under fire for its perceived exchange of influence of money. The campaign has declined to comment on Wanderman's blog. 

Young, dynamic, and moderate, South Bend, Indiana Mayor Pete Buttigieg has emerged as a challenger in the centrist lane in the race for the 2020 Democratic presidential nomination Photo: AFP / SAUL LOEB

Woman Upset She Didn’t Lose Weight Loses ‘Diet’ Dr Pepper Lawsuit Appeal

Calling a soft drink "diet" isn't a weight-loss promise, a federal appeals court said Monday.

The Ninth U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in San Francisco refused to reinstate a class-action lawsuit by a woman who argued that the makers of Diet Dr Pepper committed fraud.

Shana Becerra of Santa Rosa argued that she had been drinking Diet Dr Pepper for more than 13 years and "did not receive what she paid for" because of deceptive advertising, the San Francisco Chronicle reported.

But when used as an adjective, the dictionary definition of "diet" refers to a product that has fewer calories that the "regular" version of the product, said the ruling by Judge Jay Bybee in a 3-0 appellate panel decision.

"No reasonable consumer would assume that Diet Dr Pepper's use of the term 'diet' promises weight loss or management."

Judge Jay Bybee, Ninth U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals

"No reasonable consumer would assume that Diet Dr Pepper's use of the term 'diet' promises weight loss or management," Bybee wrote.

In upholding a lower court's dismissal of her suit, the panel also dismissed Becerra's argument that the use of "attractive, fit models in the ads implies that Diet Dr Pepper will help its consumers achieve those bodies."

The panel cited a federal appeals court ruling in New York in a similar case against Diet Coke that said the use of such models in advertising is ubiquitous and can't reasonably be understood to carry any specific meaning.

The same San Francisco court last week dismissed an appeal by Becerra against the makers of Diet Coke, on grounds that it didn't have jurisdiction in that case.

A message seeking comment from Jack Fitzgerald of San Diego, one of Becerra's attorneys, was not immediately returned Monday night.