Racial disparity in cancer

The American Cancer Society recently released “Cancer Facts&Figures for African- Americans 2009-2010”:

“African-Americans have the highest death rate and shortest survival of any racial and ethnic group in the U. S. for most cancers. The causes of these inequalities are complex and are thought to reflect social and economic disparities more than biologic differences associated with race. These include inequalities in work, wealth, income, education, housing and overall standard of living, barriers to high-quality health care, and racial discrimination.

“Although the overall racial disparity in cancer death rates is decreasing, in 2005, the death rate for all cancers combined continued to be 33 percent higher in African- American men and 16 percent higher in African-American women than in white men and women, respectively. Furthermore, African-Americans bear a disproportionately high burden from other diseases as well. Life expectancy is lower for African-Americans than whites among men 69.5 versus 75.7 years) and women (76.3 versus 80.8 years).”

A weight loss ‘secret’

Diet gurus have long promoted weight-loss strategies that fiddle with the form of calories. Avoid fat. Avoid carbs. Eat lots of protein. Balance carbs, fats and protein. The only thing that really matters, though, is taking in fewer calories than you burn. That’s the conclusion from the latest trial comparing weight loss across four popular diet strategies: low fat, average protein; low fat, high protein; high fat, average protein; high fat, high protein. Each diet met the American Heart Association’s recommendations for cardiovascular health.

Participants in each group quickly lost weight, then gradually regained some. After two years, weight loss was similar across the four plans, on the order of 7 to 9 pounds. Feelings of hunger, of being satisfied, and of satisfaction with the diet were the same across the board. So were cholesterol levels and other markers of cardiovascular risk (New England Journal of Medicine).

If you want to lose weight, find a diet that appeals to your taste buds. Cutting back by 250 calories a day, and exercising long enough to burn an extra 250 calories a day (walk an extra two miles, for example) will help you lose a pound a week. You can calculate the calories in your food, or the calories you burn, at

www.mypyramidtracker.gov

. Instead of a catchy name, this kind of do-it-yourself diet has something better— a proven track record.

Compiled from News wire services