Obesity & Cancer ~ HGH Academy

Recent studies confirm that there is a positive relationship between obesity and the two deadly killer diseases, namely cancer and heart disease. This means that if you are on the obese side, your chances of getting these diseases are high!

The studies are still underway and scientists have yet to confirm exactly how much excess weight will lead to an increase in cancer risk.

In a project conducted by the World Health Organization called The MONICA project, statistics revealed that more than 20 percent of the population in parts of Western Europe and United States are reported to be obese in the 1990s. As these figures are very alarming, it is only wise especially for the obese group of people to sit up and pay attention.

At the International Agency for Research on Cancer, Unit of Chemoprevention, Lyon, France, Dr. Franca Bianchini pointed out that obesity is linked to colon, breast (in postmenopausal women), endometrium, kidney and esophagus cancer. He also mentioned that there are plausible mechanistic explanations for most of these associations.

During a study conducted by him, the participants were chosen under strict guidelines. Only selected cases where body mass indexes (BMI) were recorded were taken into consideration. These cases added up to at least 200 for breast and colorectal cancers; 100 for colon adenomas, endometrial, and prostate cancers; and 50 for cancers at other organ sites. Dr. Bianchini explained that obese people are more prone to getting cancer due to the alterations in the metabolism of endogenous hormones, including sex steroids and insulin. These factors could in turn result in an imbalance between cell proliferation, cell differentiation and cell apoptosis.

The relative risks measured in the above study showed that the BMI ranges differed between cancer sites. The average ranges were less than 22 kg/m and greater than 28.5 kg/m.

The researchers then concluded that for cancer and heart disease prevention, we should maintain a BMI in the range of 18.5 to 25 kg/m. This is because of the variations that are inherent between the ratio of adipose tissue to the lean body mass in individuals with the same BMI.

However, there is now even more evidence that those with BMI within the range of 20-25 kg/m have an increased risk of heart disease. Some other studies that were conducted separately also indicated an increased cancer risk with BMI below 25 kg/m.

Source: Lancet Oncol 2002; 3: 565-74.