Smoking is currently the main risk factor for developing cancer. Obesity is in second place and is most often associated with type II diabetes, metabolic syndrome or cardiac diseases. On the other hand, excess body weight increases the risk of developing 13 types of cancer, including: breast, intestine, gallbladder, ovaries and kidneys. (1)
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Research in 2012 estimated that 481 people worldwide (3,6%) of all new cases of cancer in adults (30 years of age and older) are associated with a high BMI. It has also been noticed that this indicator is higher in very highly and highly developed countries. Research by Dr. Melina Arnold from the International Agency for Research on Cancer in Lyon has shown that the longer a BMI is above 25 kg / m2, the greater the risk of developing cancer. Then there are more hormones, pro-inflammatory factors and substances in the body that promote the formation of cancer cells. (2)
And in September this year, a report from Cancer Research UK appeared, which indicates that the number of cases of cancer in obese or overweight people will approach the number of cases related to smoking. It is estimated that by 2035, obesity-related cancer rates will be 9%, and tobacco-related cancer rates will be 10%. Based on these calculations, it has been shown that obesity will be the main cancer risk factor in Great Britain in 2043 (3), as shown in the chart below. Obesity not only increases the risk of cancer, but also makes treatment more difficult. American studies showed that the mortality rate from breast cancer in obese women was 5% compared to women with normal body weight.
Scientists in Seattle published a study in 2016 which found that losing 5-10% of weight loss causes fewer substances in the body to promote the development of cancer. This study included 439 menopausal women. (4)
Overweight and obesity may overtake cigarette smoking as the leading cause of cancer. However, this also has to do with fewer and fewer people in the UK smoking, so the rate of cancer from smoking is declining. This relationship is presented in the chart below.
In these countries, the spread of tobacco smoking has decreased, awareness of the harmfulness of the habit has been raised, smoking cessation is being promoted and the prices of tobacco products are increasing. It is very important that such measures are also introduced in the fight against obesity. Only then will we be able to change these terrifying statistics.
Let today’s day (October 24.10), which is the World Anti-Obesity Day, be a factor that will encourage us to change our eating habits and introduce physical activity in order to better take care of our health.
- National Cancer Registry, http://onkologia.org.pl/otylosc/ accessed on 10.10.2018.
- Arnold M. i wsp., Global burden of cancer attributable to high body-mass index in 2012: a population-based study, The Lancet Oncology, 2015
- Cancer Research UK, When could overweight and obesity overtake smoking as the biggest cause of cancer in the UK?, 2018
- Duggan C. i wsp. Dietary Weight Loss and Exercise Effects on Serum Biomarkers of Angiogenesis in Overweight Postmenopausal Women: A Randomized Controlled Trial, 2016
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Amanda Pawlak Dietician
Dietitian specializing in the nutrition of pregnant women, nursing mothers, small and large children, and how the diet affects fertility. Co-author of the e-book on nutrition for children “Every bite makes sense”. She is on Instagram as parents.2be, devoted to a healthy approach to diet. She loves to cook and there is little space in her kitchen for meat. Privately, she is passionate about traveling on her own, vanlife, environmental protection and physical activity.
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