Ka Wai Ola - Office of Hawaiian Affairs, Volume 28, Number 4, 1 April 2011 — Think lean and muscular ... and become it! [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

Think lean and muscular ... and become it!

\ew cancer information was published last fall in Hawai'i Cancer Facts and Figures, 2010. Important facts for Native Hawaiians to know are: • Overall cancer death rates are highest for Native Hawaiian men and women. • New lung cancer cases and death rates are highest for Native Hawaiian men and women. • New breast cancer cases and death rates are highest for Native Hawaiian women.

• Overall new cancer cases in men are highest for Whites and in women are highest for Native Hawaiians. • New prostate cancer cases are highest for Filipinos and lowest for Native Hawaiians while death was

highest for Whites. • Native Hawaiian and Filipino females have the highest new cases and death rates for cervical cancer. This new information shows little improvement for Native Hawaiians over the last five years. Fortunately, there are actions that Hawaiians ean take to lower their cancer risks. After many years and numerous studies, cancer researchers know mueh more about cancer. For example, approximately onethird, or 30 percent, of all U.S. cancer deaths are due to nutrition and physical activity factors, including obesity. Facts show that smoking and tobacco use are a primary cause of new lung cancers in all popula-

tions. And, in Hawai'i, cigarette smoking is highest among Native Hawaiians and our keiki are adopting this behavior, thus, increasing their risk for many cancers. Cancer risks ean be reduced with a daily nutrition plan that includes many plant foods like fruits, vegetables, grains and beans, as well as a balance between eating and physical activity. Years of studies demonstrate that daily physical activity promotes overall good heahh and ean protect against some cancers, including eolon cancer and breast cancer. And, both eolon and breast cancers are significant among Native Hawaiians. Cancer and obesity researchers agree that cancer and being severely overweight are linked. The American Cancer Society reports that excess body weight contributes to more than 90,000 U.S. cancer deaths annually, from cancers of the esophagus (passageway from throat to stomach), eolon, rectum, liver, gall bladder, pancreas and kidney, non-Hodgkin's lymphoma and multiple myeloma. Also, men who were overweight or severely overweight had an increased risk of dying from cancer of the stomach and prostate. Also, they found that overweight or severely overweight postmenopausal women had an increased risk

of death from cancers of the breast, cervix, ovaries and uterus. Being overweight is linked to developing postmenopausal breast cancer, esophageal cancer and cancer of the kidney and pancreas. And, adult leukemia and lymphoma, as well as ovarian, cervical, gallbladder, liver and aggressive prostate cancer are other cancers that are linked to being overweight, as well. Specific actions for Hawaiians to take: if you smoke or family members smoke, STOP. If you are heavy, lose weight and exercise daily. And help your keiki develop good health practices. Our ancient Hawaiian ancestors were not overweight. Hawaiians were described by the first white explorers to Hawai'i as being taller than average, nimble, well-made, with fine muscular limbs. Many early photographs show that Hawaiians were indeed tall and lean. Get yearly physical exams and cancer screenings. Early detection of cancer greatly increases the ehanee for survival. Adopting the preventive heahh practices of our Hawaiian ancestors ean save Hawaiians and their keiki from a lot of misery. Be more like our kūpuna, eat mostly plant-based foods and do more physical work(outs). The folly of our current behaviors is costing us and our children precious heahh and life. Think lean and muscular and become that. ■

Dr. Claire Ku'uleilani Hughes, who was featured on KWO' s I March I cover, will [ be a guest ! on Long | Story Short with Leslie Wilco.x

airing at 7:30 p.m. May 3 on PBS Hawai'i. Wilcox's one-on-one conversations provide insight into those who shape our community.

HEALĪH

By Claire Ku'uleilani Hughes, Dr. PH„ R.D.

Many early photographs, like this one, show that Hawaiians were indeed tall and lean. - Photo: Courtesy ofBishop Museum

Photo:JohnDeMello