Lund University in Sweden conducted a study with 4.1 million people who were closely observed for around 40 years on their weight and lifestyle.
Almost half of cancer instances are associated with obesity, according to recent studies, therefore maintaining your physical health through exercise and food control is essential.
The 4.1 million participants in a study conducted by Sweden’s Lund University were closely observed for almost 40 years, with particular attention paid to their weight and lifestyle.
More than 332,000 cancer cases were found throughout that time.
In depth
According to the study, there seemed to be a connection between the onset of cancer and being overweight in 40% of these patients.
The university’s researchers discovered a total of 32 cancer kinds that were linked to obesity. The paper also mentioned other studies conducted globally that connected 13 different cancer kinds to obesity. The results of the study, according to researchers, have significant ramifications for public health.
According to the researchers, established obesity-related cancers made up 25% of all cancer cases in this study. When potential obesity-related cancers were included, the percentage rose to 40%. They also noted that a sizable portion of cancers may be prevented by maintaining a normal weight.
Obesity and cancer
Obesity causes hormonal imbalances, especially insulin resistance, which raises insulin levels and promotes the growth of cancer cells. Obese people’s fat cells release oestrogen, which is known to encourage gynaecological diseases such ovarian, breast, and endometrial cancers.
The body goes into a pro-inflammatory condition when an individual is obese, which increases inflammation and the generation of free oxygen radicals. These free radicals have the ability to harm cellular DNA, which can lead to the start and spread of cancer.
Being obese increases the chance of developing gastric reflux disease, which in turn increases the risk of oesophageal cancer. Obesity-related fat build-up in the liver can result in non-alcoholic fatty liver disease, which is a major risk factor for liver cancer. Dietary practices that lead to obesity, including consuming too much red meat, are also linked to the development of stomach and colon cancer.
Take away
The European Association for the Study of Obesity (EASO) president, Professor Jason Halford, told the journal that the study was a solid, extensive examination.
As always, more research is required, but this finding confirms what many people looking into the relationship between obesity and cancer have long suspected: obesity is probably a risk factor for a lot more cancer kinds than we previously knew.
Experts emphasised that keeping a healthy weight could avoid a significant number of these cancers.
