Obesity and Cancer

Benjamin M. Craig, PhD, visiting Assistant Professor of Family Medicine and Affiliate Member of the Center for Demography and Ecology, is currently examining the relationship between obesity and cancer as part of his career development award under Dr. James Stewart, Director of the Breast Clinic at the UW Comprehensive Cancer Center.

It has been determined that fat produces estrogen, a hormone that may cause or promote tumor development and spread. In addition, obese patients have special needs, such as:

• Difficulty with mammography screening
• Increased dosing of chemotherapeutic agents
• Greater risk for cancer treatment complications due to obesity-related conditions (e.g., diabetes)

Dr. Craig has also been conducting a historical review of the United States cancer economy. Along with Alex Adams, MD, PhD, he has investigated whether self-reported height and weight is valid as a proxy for obesity in women, and continued multiple methodological projects in outcomes research.