I can think of no better reason

When I was in for my annual physical last winter, the doctor instructed me to ‘get ready for a prostate exam’. I asked if there was an increase in my PSA numbers to cause concern. He replied, “No. It’s just part of the physical for men of your age“.

I pointed out that I was only 38, and under the impression that the annual exam was recommended for men over 40. I told the Doctor that I would rather put that off for two more years (or as long as possible), as long as there wasn’t cause for concern from the PSA. He made some notes on my chart and said, “Good. That is one part of this job that I avoid if at all possible”.

According to Men’s Health Magazine, the FatBloggers (and all guys on a diet) can add another reason to the list of why we’re doing this…

AVOID THE OUCH
Lose weight and limit your need for the most uncomfortable medical test

Would you rather lose a couple pounds or undergo a digital rectal exam?

If you’re overweight, it may come down to that—a new study found that the less invasive blood test screening for prostate cancer may not be accurate for obese men, leaving them more vulnerable to the disease. No such association was found for obese men diagnosed by a digital rectal examination. To add insult to (cough) injury, the surgery to remove the cancer is also less effective in overweight men.

This pair of findings applies to men who may not consider themselves obese: “A man who is 5’9″ and 203 pounds would be considered obese,” says Dr. Stephen Freedland, an associate professor of urology and pathology at the Duke University Prostate Center, and an author of one of the studies.

The researchers theorize that because overweight men have a higher volume of blood, the protein that indicates prostate cancer gets diluted, so it’s harder to detect. This means that by the time the cancer is detectable via blood, it’s already in a more advanced phase. What’s more, because the surgical procedure to remove the cancer is less effective on obese men, they are nearly 60 percent more likely to have a recurrence than thinner men.

Reduce your risk of prostate cancer (and a rubber glove test) by losing your gut with our Belly Off! plan. Power up your diet with fruits and vegetables, and learn the 6 reasons a six-pack can save your life.