World Cancer Research Fund estimates that around 20% of all cancers are diagnosed in the United States associated with the overweight body, physical activity, excessive alcohol consumption, and/or malnutrition, and also thus be prevented.
These factors are all related and may all contribute to the risk of cancer, but the weight loss seems to have strong evidence linking to cancer. Excess weight contributing to as many as 1 in 5 of all cancer-related deaths.
Being overweight or obese is clearly linked to increased risk of various types of cancer,including cancers of the:
- Breasts (in women menopausal)
- The colon and rectum
- The endometrium (lining of the uterus)
- The esophagus
- Kidney
- The pancreas
Overweight or obesity may also increase the risk of other cancers, such as:
- Gall bladder
- Hearts
- Non-Hodgkin's Lymphoma
- Multiple myeloma
- Nape
- The ovaries
- The aggressive form of prostate cancer
Additionally, having too much abdominal fat (i.e., larger waist size), regardless of weight, is associated with an increased risk of cancer of the colon and rectum, and may be associated with a higher risk of pancreatic cancer, and endometrial, breast cancer (in women past menopause).
But the relationship between weight and cancer is complex and not fully understood.For example, while studies have found that being overweight is associated with increased risk of breast cancer in women after menopause, it does not seem to increase the risk of breast cancer before menopause. The reason for this is not clear.
Time weight loss may also affect cancer risk. Overweight during childhood and young adulthood may be more of a risk factor of weight gain in later life to some cancers.For example, some research suggests that women who are overweight as a teenager(but not those who gain weight as adults) may be at higher risk for developing ovarian cancer before menopause.
Clearly, more research is needed to better define the relationship between weight and cancer.
How can weight affect cancer risk?
Excess weight may affect cancer risk through a number of mechanisms, some of which may be specific to certain types of cancer.
Excess body fat can affect:
- The function of the immune system and inflammation
- Levels of certain hormones, such as insulin and estrogen
- The factors that regulate cell growth, such as insulin-like growth factor-1 (IGF-1)
- A protein that affects how the body uses certain hormones, such as sex hormone-binding globulin
Does losing weight reduces the risk of cancer?
Research on how to lose weight can lower the risk of developing cancer is limited. However, there is growing evidence that weight loss can reduce the risk of breast cancer (after menopause), form a more aggressive forms of prostate cancer, and cancer may be more, too.
Some of the body changes that occur as a result of the weight loss suggests it might, indeed, reduce the risk of cancer. For example, people who are overweight or obese are intentionally losing weight has reduced the levels of certain hormones related to cancer risk, such as insulin, estrogen, androgen and.
While we still have much to learn about the relationship between weight and cancer risk, people who are overweight or obese should be encouraged and supported if they try to lose weight. In addition it may reduce the risk of cancer, weight loss can have many other health benefits, such as lowering the risk of heart disease and diabetes. Losing even a small amount of weight has health benefits and is a good place to start.
You can start to lose your weight by exercise, diet, or may you need to change your mindset first. But the most important is do it right now before you get cancer or another health problem caused your weight.