Obesity and prostate cancer are two common health concerns, and when they occur together, they can make managing either condition more difficult. According to the International Journal of Cancer Care and Delivery, prostate cancer is the most frequently diagnosed cancer among males in the United States. At the same time, about 70 percent of adults in the U.S. live with a larger body weight or obesity, which affects how hormones, metabolism, and other body systems work.

If you’re managing both conditions, you’re not alone. Obesity can influence how prostate cancer develops, how it progresses, and how well treatments work. Understanding this connection can help you take charge of your health and make informed choices that support your well-being.

Does Obesity Raise Your Chance of Prostate Cancer?

Obesity is a known risk factor (something that increases the chance of getting a disease) for several forms of cancer, including esophageal cancer, colon cancer, and kidney cancer. But researchers are still learning whether or how prostate cancer may be an effect of obesity.

Nonetheless, when someone with obesity gets diagnosed with prostate cancer, the risk of it being advanced prostate cancer is higher. It’s also more likely to be fatal or come back (recur) after it’s been treated.

The Role of Body Fat

The scientific name for fat is adipose tissue. Scientists have discovered a lot of interesting information about what adipose tissue does in the body. It is made up of cells that release chemical messages, known as adipokines, and it’s actively involved in many of the body’s functions.

Leptin is an adipokine that people with obesity have in higher amounts. Research suggests that leptin may cause prostate tumors to grow and spread more easily. Leptin may also lower the body’s ability to carry out apoptosis — a natural process that destroys damaged or cancerous cells.

Another adipokine is adiponectin. Normally, adiponectin has anticancer effects. But in people with obesity, adiponectin may not work as well. Studies also suggest that people with prostate cancer have lower adiponectin levels than those without prostate cancer.

Role of Insulin

People living with obesity often have high insulin levels. Scientists think this may cause prostate cancer to grow. Too much insulin can affect a signaling hormone in the body called IGF-1, which helps cells grow.

When insulin is high, it lowers certain proteins that normally keep IGF-1 in check. This may let cancer cells grow and survive more easily. IGF-1 may also help tumors grow new blood vessels.

Studies have found more IGF-1 in prostate cancer tissue and in the blood of people with prostate cancer.

Role of the Gut Microbiome

The gut microbiome — the natural balance of bacteria in the digestive system — may play a role in prostate cancer. Changes in certain bacteria might affect how genes work, possibly influencing cancer growth. In one study, researchers analyzed prostate tissue from people who had surgery for prostate cancer. They found four bacteria that could be linked to the disease:

• Cutibacterium acnes and Micrococcus luteus — Common skin bacteria that can sometimes cause infections
• Moraxella osloensis — A less common bacterium occasionally linked to illness
• Chroococcidiopsis — A rare environmental bacterium not usually found in people

More research is needed to understand whether these bacteria play a role in prostate cancer.

There’s still a lot to learn about how these different factors affect prostate cancer in people with obesity. These research areas may lead to more effective and targeted cancer prevention or treatment.

Should You Get Screened for Prostate Cancer?

Obesity alone isn’t a reason to get screened for prostate cancer. Instead, your doctor will help you decide whether to get screened for prostate cancer based on your family history and whether you have any symptoms.

Symptoms that could be caused by prostate cancer or another health condition include:

• Blood in the urine or semen
• Frequent urination at night
• Pain or burning while peeing or ejaculating
• Trouble starting urination or fully emptying your bladder

If you have any of these symptoms, it’s worth discussing with your doctor.

If you’re between the ages of 55 and 69, you can ask your healthcare provider if you should have a prostate cancer screening. Usually, this is done with a prostate-specific antigen (PSA) test. It’s possible to have prostate cancer with no symptoms or significant risk of dying from it. Overtesting can lead to a diagnosis that wouldn’t have otherwise needed medical attention.

Those over age 70 aren’t normally screened for prostate cancer because they’re more likely to get a false positive test result, which causes unnecessary concern and distress.

How Does Obesity Affect Prostate Cancer After Diagnosis?

A meta-analysis of 16 studies published in the International Journal of Cancer Care and Delivery looked at 26,479 males with prostate cancer. The study periods ranged from two to 10 years. Researchers found that males with a body mass index (BMI) that is 5 points higher had a 21 percent increased risk of prostate cancer that recurred (came back) after treatment. In other studies, a 5-point increase in BMI raised the risk of recurrence by 10 percent.

Cancer treatment comes with many side effects. But cancer research suggests that men with obesity are more likely to have severe side effects from treatment. Obesity also makes radiation therapy and surgery more complicated and less precise.

There’s some evidence linking higher body fat with a greater risk of death from prostate cancer. In another meta-analysis of 19 studies, researchers found that the risk of fatal prostate cancer went up by:

• 10 percent for every 5-point increase in BMI
• 7 percent for every 3.9-inch increase in waist circumference
• 6 percent for every 0.05 increase in waist-to-hip ratio

BMI isn’t always the best way to measure obesity or its related risks. That’s because it doesn’t take body composition into account. BMI only looks at height and weight, not how much body fat someone has. But these findings show that central adiposity (the extra weight someone has in their midsection) is an especially important predictor of prostate cancer mortality (risk of death).

What Can You Do To Prevent Prostate Cancer?

The connection between obesity and prostate cancer is still being researched. So far, cancer statistics don’t show that obesity changes the risk of prostate cancer developing in the first place. However, obesity seems to make people who get prostate cancer more likely to develop an aggressive form of the cancer that grows and spreads faster.

Ask your doctor how your lifestyle may be affecting your risk of different diseases like prostate cancer. Unfortunately, you can’t control every risk factor. For instance, your family history, age, and ethnicity aren’t things you can choose. But focusing on your modifiable risk factors (those you can change) will help you take control of your health and future.

Reducing obesity is a good step toward better health. No specific foods are known to cause or prevent prostate cancer. However, dietary habits that support healthy changes and include plenty of fruits and vegetables are generally protective against cancer and helpful for achieving or maintaining a healthy weight.

Physical activity can also support a healthy weight. Being active is crucial as people get older. Research findings are mixed, but some studies have found that men over age 65 who are highly active reduce their risk of prostate cancer by up to 77 percent.

It’s Never Too Late To Make Positive Changes

While weight loss may not be the answer for prostate cancer prevention, it could make a difference in life after diagnosis. Getting any type of cancer isn’t easy. It’s normal to struggle with issues like nausea, fatigue, and depression, especially when you have side effects from treatment. However, the choices you make can affect your outcomes and quality of life.

You can also address other health problems like high blood pressure and diabetes. Ideally, resistance training while losing body fat helps preserve muscle mass and strength.

You may benefit from meeting with a registered dietitian, mental health counselor, or physical therapist to achieve your goals. Ask your healthcare provider what steps you can take to improve your outlook.

Talk With Others Who Understand

MyObesityTeam is the social network for people with obesity and their loved ones. On MyObesityTeam, more than 57,000 members come together to ask questions, give advice, and share their stories with others who understand life with obesity.

Do you worry about how obesity affects prostate cancer development or treatment? Share your experience in the comments below or on your Activities page.