Prostate cancer risk rises with obesity

BALTIMORE, May 10 (UPI) -- Baltimore researchers have found that obese men may have increased risk for prostate cancer recurrence after surgery.

According to a study released Monday, scientists from the Brady Urological Institute at Johns Hopkins University found obese men are more likely than other men to have high levels of prostate specific antigen, a marker for cancer recurrence.

The study involved 1,106 patients treated at five Veteran's Administration and active military hospitals across the country.

"Our results show that moderately and severely obese men were at an increased risk for high PSA levels after surgery and therefore are likely to have prostate cancer recurrence," said researcher Stephen Freedland.

Thirty-one percent of African-American men in the study were obese, while 21 percent of Caucasian men were obese.

"Our findings add to the burgeoning list of chronic and deadly diseases associated with obesity and underscore the importance of this major public health problem," Freedland said.