Recent research by the charity Cancer Research UK revealed that obese women have a 40 percent higher risk of developing cancer than thinner women. Obesity is characterized by excess body fat and is linked to health risks such as diabetes, heart disease, and other medical conditions caused by metabolic syndrome.
The researchers found that about 274 in every 1,000 British women have high chances of developing cancer when compared to only 194 in 1,000 healthy weight women. The key points highlighted by the study are:
- Women who are obese have about a one in four risk of developing a weight-related cancer in their lifetime
- Obesity is a risk factor for cancer of the bowel, kidney, pancreas and esophagus, gallbladder, uterus, and post-menopausal breast cancer
- Excess body fat results in the production of more hormones, especially estrogen, which is believed to fuel the proliferation of cancer cells
The charity’s head of health information had this advice for women: “Lifestyle changes, like not smoking, keeping a healthy weight, eating a healthy diet and cutting back on alcohol, are the big opportunities for us all to personally reduce our cancer risk. Making these changes is not a guarantee against cancer, but it stacks the odds in our favor.”
One thing that everyone agrees on is that weight control is a key factor when it comes to maintaining good health. Cancer has various risk factors and obesity is one of them. According to one study only 5–10% of all cancer cases can be attributed to genetic defects and the remaining 90–95% has their roots in the environment and lifestyle. Making healthy lifestyle choices can help manage your weight and reduce your risk for cancer and many other diseases.
The CDC stresses that for weight loss, what really matters is that you cut back on calories that you eat and drink and get more regular physical activity. In other words, burn more calories than you eat. But tackling obesity is not easy and despite your efforts, results may take a long time to bear fruit. Rather than stringent diets and vigorous workouts, start your weight loss journey by making some simple changes in your lifestyle. Eat a healthy diet and be physically active. Take the stairs instead of the elevator whenever you can and get off the bus a stop earlier. Cleaning the house, gardening and washing the car are chores that can keep you physically active. Cut down on sugary food. For instance opt for porridge oats instead of a breakfast cereal that is high in sugar and switch from colas and shakes to flavored water – without sugar, of course.