According to a new research carried out by Cancer Research UK, obesity in women increases the risk of weight-related cancer by as much as 40 per cent. These including bowel, post-menopausal breast, gallbladder, womb, kidney, pancreatic and oesophageal cancer.
The charity’s claims are based on the calculations by Cancer Research UK Statistical Information Team in February 2015. The data is based on lifetime cancer risks for 2009-2011 in the UK, proportions of overweight and obese women aged 16 and over from 2011-2013 in the UK, and body-weight associated cancer risks from Parkin DM, Boyd L, Cancers attributable to overweight and obesity in the UK in 2010. Br J Cancer 2011.
The research revealed that in a group of 1,000 obese women over 27 per cent i.e. 274 will be diagnosed with a bodyweight-linked cancer in their lifetime as compared to just 194 women diagnosed in a group of 1,000 healthy weight women.
According to latest statistics, nearly a quarter of UK women are obese and the latest research puts them in a greater risk of cancer bracket. Though obesity could trigger cancer in multiple ways, one of the major links is said to be production of hormones by fat cells – especially oestrogen. This hormone is thought to fuel the development of cancer. [Read More: Prostate and breast cancer said to be genetically linked]
Researchers and medical experts have been advising people for years to alter their lifestyle in a bid to reduce their cancer risk, and the same recommendations have been echoed by Cancer Research UK.
Dr Julie Sharp, head of health information at Cancer Research UK, believes that making small changes to one’s lifestyle will have a real impact in the long run. [Read More: Geneticists to look for an answer to why do some people never get cancer?]
“To get started try getting off the bus a stop earlier and cutting down on fatty and sugary foods. Losing weight takes time so gradually build on these to achieve a healthier lifestyle that you can maintain. And find out about local services, which can provide help and support to make lifestyle changes over the long term”, Sharp says.
Sharp further adds that refraining from smoking, sticking to a healthy diet regime and cutting back on alcohol are some of the major opportunities that enable people to reduce their cancer risk.
“Making these changes is not a guarantee against cancer, but it stacks the odds in our favour”, Sharp concludes.
