Connection of Eight More Cancers to Obesity

Doctors have long warned about the dangers of obesity, especially as one ages. However, there is now another reason to control weight and maintain a healthy diet. According to the Medical Express website, an international team of researchers states that excessive obesity can be linked to eight types of cancer: stomach, liver, gallbladder, pancreas, ovarian, meningioma (a type of brain tumor), thyroid, and multiple myeloma. Medical data indicate that maintaining a lower weight as one ages reduces the risk of developing these cancers. This research, published in the scientific journal The New England Journal of Medicine, analyzed data from over a thousand separate studies on the relationship between excessive obesity and cancer risk. Dr. Graham Colditz, one of the leaders of this team from Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis, USA, says, 'The role of excessive obesity in cancer development is greater than previously thought.' According to Dr. Colditz, many cancers recently discovered to be related to obesity have not received public attention regarding their relationship with weight control. Worldwide, over 640 million adults and 110 million children suffer from obesity. In the United States, one-third of adults and children suffer from excessive overweight. The results of this study are very concerning for governments and the public. In 2002, the same research team found a link between excessive obesity and cancers of the colon, esophagus, kidney, breast, and endometrium. This group also discovered the relationship between weight gain and increased risk of breast cancer in men, diffuse large B-cell lymphoma, and prostate cancer. Dr. Colditz states, 'Factors that shape our lifestyles, such as healthy diets, maintaining a proper weight, physical activity, and quitting habits like smoking, have a significant impact on reducing cancer risk.' Researchers believe that public health efforts should focus on changing lifestyles and making them healthier rather than treating diseases after they occur. However, losing weight is not easy. Colditz believes that instead of feeling hopeless and giving up, overweight individuals can strive to prevent further weight gain. This research shows that the risk of cancer related to excessive obesity is nearly the same among women and men and across different regions of the world.