Vim & Vigor - Spring 2016 - University of Virginia - (Page 2)

LIFE IN BALANCE BEYOND APPEARANCES Extra weight affects more than how we look. It increases our cancer risk VIM & VIGOR A FAMILY HEALTH MAGAZINE FROM THE UNIVERSITY OF VIRGINIA HEALTH SYSTEM To update your address, send Vim & Vigor to a friend or access the magazine online, go to uvahealth.com/vigor or call 888-882-9892. CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER, UNIVERSITY OF VIRGINIA MEDICAL CENTER As someone who cares for people who have diabetes, I see a lot of women who struggle with extra weight. Like many, you may have vowed to shed 30, 40 or 60 pounds to fit into your favorite jeans or dress. But few of us ever think, if I don't lose these added pounds, I might die. The reality is that excess fat increases our risk of getting cancer. A body mass index of 30 or above is projected to soon outpace tobacco use as the No. 1 preventable cause of cancer. No one is more aware of this trend than my UVA colleague Susan C. Susan Kirk, MD Modesitt, MD. She's a gynecologic oncologist (a doctor specializing in female cancers) researching the connection between obesity and cancer in women. She explains how obesity can lead to cancer. Susan C. Modesitt, MD Body fat is not just a repository for excess calories. It actively changes things in our body and can produce hormones like estrogen. It's also associated with increased glucose and inflammation. All of these can promote cancer development. This year, 55,000 women in the U.S. will be diagnosed as having endometrial (uterine lining) cancer, and 40 percent of those cases can be directly attributed to obesity. Obese women also face an increased risk for breast, colon, gallbladder and kidney cancers. If every woman in the U.S. was Susan C. at a normal body weight, we could prevent about a fifth of Modesitt, MD all cancer deaths in women. My overall message to anyone struggling with her weight is to eat healthy, exercise and have patience. Weight loss shouldn't be dramatic. Even a modest weight loss of 5 percent improves blood pressure and blood sugar. It's best to lose 1 to 2 pounds a week. If you have 100 pounds to lose, it will take a year, but it will definitely be worth the effort. Even if you aren't able to lose weight, adding exercise will improve your quality of life and likely offer some cancer prevention effects as well. I couldn't agree more with you, Dr. Modesitt, about enjoying regular exercise and losing weight gradually. Thanks for giving us insight on how shedding extra pounds will not only make our clothes fit better but give us a better chance of enjoying a longer, healthier life. Susan Kirk, MD University of Virginia Health System 2 SP RIN G 2 0 1 6 Pamela M. Sutton-Wallace MARKETING DIRECTOR Susanna Brent REGIONAL EDITOR Kelly Casey REGIONAL ART DIRECTOR Diane Butler PRODUCTION EDITORIAL EDITOR-IN-CHIEF: Amy Saunders EDITORS: Erin Feeney, Meghan Krein, Matt Morgan COPY EDITOR: C.J. Hutchinson DESIGN CHIEF ART DIRECTOR: Tami Rodgers ART DIRECTOR: Rod Karmenzind ASSOCIATE ART DIRECTOR: Audrey Hall PRODUCTION SENIOR PRODUCTION MANAGER: Laura Marlowe PRODUCTION MANAGER: Jenny Babich DIRECTOR OF PREMEDIA: Dane Nordine PRODUCTION TECHNOLOGY SPECIALISTS: Julie Chan, Sonia Fitzgerald CIRCULATION SENIOR DIRECTOR, LOGISTICS: Tracey Lenz POSTAL AFFAIRS & LOGISTICS MANAGER: Janet Bracco CLIENT SERVICES CHIEF CLIENT OFFICER: Beth Tomkiw CLIENT STRATEGY AND SERVICES MANAGERS: Mark Kats, Lauren Keeton, Gerry Kubek, Barbara Mohr, Katie Murphy ADMINISTRATION CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER: Jason Benedict SVP, BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT - HEALTHCARE: Gregg Radzely, 212-574-4380 EXECUTIVE ART DIRECTOR: Adele Mulford PO Box 800224 Charlottesville, VA 22908 For address changes or to be removed from the mailing list, please visit mcmurrytmg.com/circulation. Vim & Vigor™, Spring 2016, Volume 32, Number 1, is published quarterly by MANIFEST LLC, 1010 E. Missouri Ave., Phoenix, AZ 85014, 602-395-5850. Vim & Vigor™ is published for the purpose of disseminating health-related information for the well-being of the general public and its subscribers. The information contained in Vim & Vigor™ is not intended for the purpose of diagnosing or prescribing. Please consult your physician before undertaking any form of medical treatment and/or adopting any exercise program or dietary guidelines. Vim & Vigor™ does not accept advertising promoting the consumption of alcohol or tobacco. Copyright © 2016 by MANIFEST LLC. All rights reserved. Subscriptions in U.S.: $4 for one year (4 issues). Single copies: $2.95. For subscriptions, write: Circulation Manager, Vim & Vigor™, 1010 E. Missouri Ave., Phoenix, AZ 85014. http://www.uvahealth.com/vigor http://www.mcmurrytmg.com/circulation

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Vim & Vigor - Spring 2016 - University of Virginia