Link to cancer a new motivation for many to shed unwanted pounds

DAYTON, Ohio ( WDTN ) — According to the Ohio Health Department, obesity-associated cancers make up 40% of all cancers diagnosed in the U.S. each year.

Over the last few years, drugs such as Ozempic, Wegovy and Mounjaro have helped thousands of people shed pounds and live healthier lives. But these drugs might not be a long-term solution for weight loss.

According to the health department, 30% of adults in Ohio were obese in 2011. That number has risen 5.5% percent by 2020.

Dr. Kirk Tucker, an internal medicine physician with Premier Health, sees patients everyday who are looking for help in shedding unwanted pounds.

“Nobody develops this condition in a year and suddenly becomes obese,” said Tucker. “It’s been going up for the last several decades in the United States, specifically in the Midwest.”

It’s not just the numbers on the scale that are concerning. Besides being one of the leading causes of heart disease, doctors are seeing a connection between obesity and cancer.

“It is a significant risk factor,” agreed Tucker.

From 2011 to 2021, the health department recorded nearly 27,000 new cancer cases in Ohio that were – in part – associated with obesity.

“The ones that are more common include breast cancer, gynecologic cancer like ovarian cancer and uterine cancer, colon cancer and pancreatic cancer,” said Tucker.

When the new diabetes drug Ozempic hit the market in 2018, with the unintended side effect of weight loss, the world watched in wonder as their favorite celebs slimmed down at an astonishing rate.

“When these are taken, those cravings seemingly just disappear,” said Tucker. “You know you’re watching TV at night, you’re not sitting on the couch thinking that might go with a snack.”

Elizabeth Conners is one of those impacted by the new weight-loss drugs.

“I just feel like I tried everything,” she said. “I tried walking, I went to the gym. Nothing really did anything.”

Tired of fighting the same battle with her body, Conners began taking Mounjaro to shed pounds and improve her health.

She dropped 20 pounds in the first month.

“I feel like before, I was always thinking of ‘What’s my next meal?’” said Conners. “What am I going to have for dinner? What if I’m still going out with friends? What if I order this and I’m still hungry?”

The drug alone didn’t cause her to lose weight. She also committed to a complete lifestyle change.

“The shots alone are not a long-term solution,” advised Tucker. “You quit taking the shot, you’ve not changed any other aspect of your life — the habits of your life, what you choose to eat, how you choose to live and move — the weight will come back.”

After two years, Conners is down 119 pounds and living a much healthier, happier life.

“My son is playing football at Carroll and just had a mom’s camp and I was so scared that I had to go participate in these activities,” she said. “I was able to try everything and I was like, you know, 120 pounds ago, I would not have been able to be out there with him. There’s no way I could have done that.”

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