By Andrew M. Seaman (Reuters Health) – Obesity may be partly responsible for higher rates of prostate cancer observed among African American men, suggests a new U.S. study. The links between obesity and prostate cancer among different races is complex, researchers say, but if emphasis is put on keeping people at a healthy weight, the excess burden of this cancer among African Americans might be reduced. “Targeting obesity prevention among African American men may contribute to reducing prostate cancer disparities,” said Wendy Barrington, the study lead researcher from the University of Washington School of Nursing and the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center in Seattle.