The risk of developing cancer in a postmenopausal woman may depend on how long she has been obese and overweight. However, scientists have a simple solution.
Obesity is considered by oncologists to be as dangerous a cancer risk factor as smoking. This is confirmed by the latest research published by PLOS Medicine, which shows that – as in the case of smoking – the longer the overweight and obesity persist, the greater the risk of cancer. These are the results of the latest research.
The lead author of the study, Dr. Melina Arnold from the International Agency for Research on Cancer in Lyon (a center belonging to the World Health Organization) together with prof. Hoda Anton-Culver from the University of California analyzed the cases of nearly 74. postmenopausal women who have been followed for approximately 13 years. Of these women, 6,3 thous. fell ill with cancer, in obese women it was most often breast cancer, endometrial cancer, colon cancer and kidney cancer.
Researchers have calculated that the risk of developing cancer increases by an average of 7%. after 10 years of persistent obesity. However, it is greatest in endometrial cancer, also known as endometrial cancer, as it develops in the lining of the womb. After a decade of obesity, the risk of obesity increases by 17%, and in the case of breast cancer – by 5%.
Being overweight also increases the risk of cancer, although to a lesser extent. If a woman was overweight for many years and was later obese, the likelihood of breast cancer rises to 8% and endometrial cancer to 37%.
Prof. Arnold explains that the earlier you become overweight and obese, and the longer they last, the greater the risk of developing cancer, as there are more inflammatory factors and hormones and substances in the body that promote the formation of cancer cells.
The same is true for men. In 2015, the Gut journal published a 35-year observation in Sweden, suggesting that male overweight during puberty doubles the risk of developing colorectal cancer in adulthood. In the case of obesity, the risk of this cancer is even greater.
Experts emphasize that the risk of developing cancer decreases when weight loss is achieved. This is indicated by the research by prof. Anne McTiernan of the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center in Seattle, published in July 2016 by Cancer Research. They included 439 women after the menopause.
These studies show that it is enough to lose 5-10% of weight to prevent the development of cancer in the body. The best results are achieved by a proper diet, which in these observations turned out to be more effective than physical activity. However, you can lose weight the most by combining a change in your diet with exercise.