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Obesity increases the risks of eleven cancer diseases
Overweight is a widespread problem in Germany. More and more people are moving too little and weighing too much. Researchers have now found that obesity can massively increase the risk of a variety of cancer diseases.
The researchers from the International Agency for Research on Cancer found that obesity can lead to several different types of cancer. The physicians published the results of their study in the journal "British Medical Journal".
Being overweight is bad for human health and can lead to many sequelae. However, only a few people are aware that obesity also massively increases the risk of various types of cancer. (Image: tortoon / fotolia.com) Overweight increases the risk of cancer
With many types of cancer, the risk increases when sufferers are overweight, the researchers say. These include, for example, colon, breast, pancreatic and ovarian cancers. The authors of the current study came to the conclusion after checking about 200 other studies.
By 2035, nearly three-quarters of people could be overweight
Obesity is a global problem and more and more people weigh too much. Nearly three-quarters of people will be overweight by 2035, according to figures from two leading charities. In addition, within the next twenty years there will be 700,000 new cases of obesity associated with various cancers, the researchers explain.
Excess body fat increases the risk of eleven different types of cancer
The authors of the current study warned that there is currently strong evidence of an association between excess body fat and increased risk in eleven different cancers. These include colon, rectal, endometrial, breast, ovarian, renal, pancreatic, gastric and cardiac cancers. In addition, the increased weight also affects cancer of the biliary system and certain types of esophageal and bone marrow cancer, explain the physicians.
The public needs to be better informed about the risks
Doctors and the general public should pay more attention to overweight and obesity related to cancer, says author Marc Gunter of the International Agency for Research on Cancer. Protecting people from being overweight not only reduces the risk of diabetes and cardiovascular disease, but also reduces the risk of many different cancers, the expert adds.
Scientists are studying 204 different studies
Researchers examined the results of 204 previously published studies for an association between body fat and the development of certain cancers. 95 studies looked at the assessment of obesity using a continuous scale, such as the body mass index. In twelve of these studies, the physicians found strong evidence for association with nine different cancers.
Some studies have only mixed quality
The authors explained that the remaining 83 studies were of mixed quality. While 18 percent were considered very suggestive of an association between excess body fat and cancer, 20 percent had only weak indications and 25 percent showed no evidence of association.
Being overweight causes disorders of the hormonal and metabolic pathways
Although the new study does not highlight how excess body weight is associated with an increased risk of various cancers, a number of explanations have already been proposed. Obesity causes many disorders of the hormonal and metabolic pathways, explains author Gunter. Excess fat is associated with higher estrogen levels, higher insulin levels, and increased inflammation. All of these factors can affect cell division, the expert adds.
Obesity is easy to avoid
Being overweight is the second biggest preventable cause of cancer after smoking, the researchers report. There are several ways to reduce body weight. Take the stairs more often or switch to a sugar-free version of your favorite beverage, for example, the experts advise. Even small changes can make a real difference. So a healthy body weight can be kept - and the cancer risk can be reduced. The increased risk is not limited to people who are actually overweight by definition. Any person with excess fat increases their risk for various cancers to some degree, say the authors. (As)