Weight & Cancer Risk: How Weight Loss Can Help
- Actor Billy Gardell lost 170 pounds and reversed his type 2 diabetes after a COVID-era health scare inspired him to undergo bariatric surgery and make serious lifestyle changes. He now credits disciplined eating, regular exercise, and a mindset shift from food as reward to fuel for his renewed energy and well-being.
- Although Gardell never battled cancer, his body transformation and dedication to his health are truly admirable—and have likely lowered his risk of developing cancer.
- As millions of people across the U.S. who are trying to lose weight, whether for appearance or health reasons, it’s important to understand that as per the Dietary Guidelines for Americans 2020–2025, a healthy eating plan consists of fruits, vegetables, whole grains, fat-free or low-fat milk and milk products, a variety of protein foods, and a diet low of added sugars, sodium, saturated fats, trans fats, and cholesterol.
- For cancer survivors, SurvivorNet experts recommend maintaining a healthy lifestyle through regular exercise, a balanced diet, and stress management, along with routine screenings to monitor for recurrence
- One of our experts say “losing weight is a great way to reduce one’s risk” for cancers. Conditions caused or exasperated by obesity like diabetes and heart disease can pose problems for people who’ve already been diagnosed with cancer.
Speaking exclusively with People, Gardell admitted that prior to his dramatic weight loss, he had often promised himself he would star diet “on the first of the month” or “every year.” However, it wasn’t until the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020 that he truly understood the health dangers associated with him being obese.
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Gardell, who admitted to having an emotional tie to food, ultimately chose to undergo bariatric surgery (a procedure that alters the stomach leading to less food eaten) on July 17, 2021.
The surgery shifted his mindset, leading him to view food as “fuel” instead of a “reward.”
Gardell, who credits his healthier lifestyle to regular exercise and better eating habits, says he now weighs between 210 and 215 pounds—and he no longer has diabetes.
“I feel strong. I have energy. Losing weight saved my life,” he told People.
The father of one, who called himself a “chubby” kid, recounted struggling with his parents’ divorce, taking on extra household responsibilities, and the abuse he endured from his step-dad at age 14. Eventually he left home at 17 to chase his dream of becoming a comedian.
“I was medicating my emotions and my fears with food, and I was also celebrating my victories with food,” he explained to People. “You’re eating to deflect your feelings when they’re bad or enhance them when they’re good, and both of those things are poison pills.”
Gardell, whose weight also caused him to have painful joint and muscle issues, confessed that no matter how many diets he tried, he could never keep the weight off.
A loving husband to his wife, and dad to a 22-year-old son, Gardell credits his weight loss success to obtaining a consistent and disciplined routine.
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Gardell’s routine now includes a consistent daily diet: a turkey sausage breakfast sandwich, cottage cheese with fruit, and a light dinner, all while steering clear of fried and sugary foods, he told People.
He also drinks about 75 ounces of water daily, takes multivitamins, fish oil, and probiotics, and exercises three to four times a week.
Expert Resources On Healthy Living
- Exercise and ‘Chemo Brain’: Can Physical Activity Save Breast Cancer Patients from Brain Fog During Chemotherapy?
- Zero Booze is Best For Cancer Prevention & Five Hours Per Week Of Exercise! New American Cancer Society Prevention Guidelines
- SurvivorNetTV Presents ‘How Not To Get Cancer: Diet’ — The Power of Prevention & Healthy Habits
- 8 Secrets to a Long, Healthy Life: Jacques Houot and the Fountain of Youth
- New Hard Evidence That Exercise Measurably Reduces Anxiety– 150 Minutes Per Week Makes The Difference
However, he still allows himself to indulge in food that may not be considered healthy, but not in excess.
Speaking to those learning from his journey, he added, “You’re never going to do it perfectly, but if you’re doing it eight out of 10 times, you’re going to win the battle. My thing is I meditate, and I pray for consistency. I pray for gratitude, and I pray to remember the things that I’ve learned”
He’s now grateful for being able to swim, ride horses, sit comfortably in a middle airplane seat, and easily find clothes in his size.
SurvivorNetTV Presents ‘How Not To Get Cancer: Diet’ — The Power of Prevention & Healthy Habits
Obesity & Cancer Risk
Obesity, which means having too much body fat, increases an individual’s risk of developing a range of dangerous health conditions, including several types of cancer. In addition to increasing the likelihood of developing certain cancers, obesity is associated with worse treatment outcomes.
In a previous interview with SurvivorNet, Dr. Stephen Freedland of Cedars Sinai Medical Center said, “Some of the best data we have is that obesity increases the risk of not just getting prostate cancer, but actually dying from prostate cancer. Obese men are 35 percent more likely to die from prostate cancer.”
The risk is significant and that’s why Dr. Freedland counsels his patients on small, everyday changes they can make in their diet which can lead to weight loss.
“I’ve studied this area for a while,” Dr. Freedland added. “I’ve talked to a lot of dietitians, and amazingly there are just two things I can get the dietitians to agree on: trans fats are bad and simple sugars are not good.”
While obesity or a person’s high weight will not always cause them to develop cancer, other conditions associated obesity, like diabetes and heart disease, can lead to complications from cancer treatment if a person already has cancer. In addition, these conditions can sometimes prevent patients from receiving the recommended first-line therapies, as well as increase a patient’s risk of undergoing surgery.
Dr. Andrea Tufano-Sugarman of NYU Langone Health explained to SurvivorNet the benefits of losing weight.
“While all cancers cannot be prevented,” she said, “losing weight is a great way to reduce one’s risk.”
How Can Diet Affect My Cancer Risk?
Dr. Tufano-Sugarman said that this is especially true for women; they lower their risk of developing breast cancer and endometrial cancer when they lose weight and keep it of.
Even without losing weight, adopting a more nutritious diet can help.
“Food choices, independent of weight loss, may also help to reduce risk,” Dr. Tufano-Sugarman said. “Research has shown that the Mediterranean diet (rich in fruits, vegetables, nuts and legumes, fish and olive oil) is associated with a decreased risk of cancer. Whereas diets rich in red meat may be associated with an increased risk of colorectal and prostate cancer.”
Sugar, The Western Diet And Cancer Prevention
Striving For a Healthier Lifestyle
People, including those diagnosed with cancer, should strive for a healthy lifestyle. Maintaining a proper diet filled with fruits and vegetables and exercising – even minimally – can benefit overall health.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) says, “Being overweight or having obesity are linked with a higher risk of getting 13 types of cancer.”
Body weight that exceeds what the body mass index (BMI) deems appropriate for your weight and height can help determine body fat content. Although your BMI can help you learn if you are at a healthy weight, underweight, overweight, or obese, other factors may contribute to your overall health.
Contributing: SurvivorNet Staff
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