Whatever approach health advocates take to tackle a growing obesity epidemic putting more Americans at risk for cancer and diabetes, local experts say addressing the issue requires a measure of sensitivity on all fronts.

"If two-thirds of your population is overweight or obese, it's hard to talk about it," said Dr. Tom Peterson, chairman of West Michigan's Tobacco Free Partners and executive director of safety, quality and community health for Helen DeVos Children's Hospital.

“It’s a very sensitive issue," he said.

Dr. Paul Kemmeter, medical director of Saint Mary's Health's weight management program, said it must be understood that patients who are obese don't want to be that way, and therefore the condition should be treated as a disease.

“It’s about being a caring society with the idea that you want people to be healthier,” Kemmeter said. “If somebody has heart disease, you don’t have a lot of people judging them for that.”

Instead of “pointing the finger,” Kemmeter said society needs to be sensitive to social, emotional and even genetic components of obesity. And people need to realize that, depending on the individual, solutions may vary from diet and exercise to bariatric, or weight-loss, surgery.

“The question is, how do we motivate people to make drastic changes?” Kemmeter said.

OBESITY AND CANCER RISK: Part 3 of 3

This is a three-part series exploring the link between obesity and cancer, whether it could someday rival tobacco in terms of risk, and how to tackle the issue sensitively. The entire story will appear in The Grand Rapids Press on March 27.

Part 1: Is obesity the new smoking when it comes to preventable cancer risk?

Part 2: Could anti-obesity campaigns eventually be as successful as anti-smoking efforts?

Complete story click here:



Mike Lindhout, executive director of the Northwest Michigan office of the American Cancer Society, said he believes, just as research has gone into studying the causes and potential cures and treatment for cancer, there is a need for "psychosocial environmental" studies into social pressures, symptoms and cues that push people to overeat and not exercise.

“If we only focus on the science of what can cure you, the problems that cause people to engage in those risky behaviors never go away,” Lindhout said. “It’s still a tough battle to fight to get a grilled chicken salad instead of a crispy chicken sandwich.”

The public also should be educated on the fact that the benefit to lowering obesity rates extends beyond decreasing cancer risk to improving treatment, said Dr. Tom Gribbin, medical director of Saint Mary’s Lack’s Cancer Center.

“The risk and complexity of doing surgery is greater with people who are overweight,” he said.

“(In chemotherapy), we have more trouble figuring out the right dose to give people who are obese," Gribbin said.

PSYCHOLOGICAL AND SOCIAL EFFECTS OF OBESITY

Psychological effects: Emotional suffering may be one of the most painful parts of obesity. American society emphasizes physical appearance and often equates attractiveness with slimness, especially for women. Such messages may make people considered overweight feel unattractive.

Social effects: Many people think that individuals who are considered obese are gluttonous, lazy or both. This is not true. As a result, people who are considered obese often face prejudice or discrimination in the job market, at school and in social situations. Feelings of rejection, shame or depression may occur.

Health Risks: Obesity is more than a cosmetic problem. Many serious medical conditions have been linked to obesity, including Type 2 diabetes, heart disease, high blood pressure and stroke. Obesity is also linked to higher rates of certain types of cancer.

Treatment: Depends on level of obesity, overall health condition and readiness to lose weight. Treatment may include a combination of diet, exercise, behavior modification and sometimes weight-loss drugs. In some cases of extreme obesity, bariatric surgery may be recommended. Remember, weight control is a lifelong effort, and having realistic expectations about weight loss is an important consideration.

Source: National Institutes of Health

E-mail Kyla King: kking@grpress.com and follow her on Twitter at twitter.com/KYLking