Commentary

Fatty foods raise the risk of cancer
By Jennifer K. Reilly, R.D.

This letter ran Aug. 23, 2007 in The Baltimore Sun.

To the Editor:

As a registered dietitian, I am thrilled that the President's Cancer Panel is finally addressing the impact of obesity on the risk of cancer ("Cancer panel urges raising tobacco taxes," Aug. 17).

This message desperately needs to be heard on Capitol Hill, where Congress continues to subsidize foods that contribute to an increased risk of obesity, cancer and other diseases.

The government still spends billions of dollars funding the production and consumption of sugary foods and high-fat meat and dairy products that contribute to obesity. And obesity is a serious risk factor for cancer.

Fatty foods can also boost the hormones that cause cancer cells to grow. In fact, studies have shown that people who regularly eat red or processed meat are up to 50 percent more likely to develop colon cancer than those who avoid meat.

Following a plant-based diet rich in fruits and vegetables is one of the best defenses against cancer. But these healthy foods receive less than 1 percent of federal food subsidies.

Congress can do a lot more to help Americans prevent cancer, and it should start by cutting subsidies for unhealthy foods.

Jennifer K. Reilly
Washington
The writer is senior nutritionist for The Cancer Project, a nonprofit group that studies the relationship between cancer and diet.

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