Cancer & Obesity
The more excess weight a person carries, the greater their risk of certain types of cancer.
Many people are often surprised by the connection; they don't associate obesity with cancer. This can be because, by the time people are diagnosed with cancer, they tend to be ill and already losing weight.
Also, cancer is strongly linked with smoking, and smokers do tend to be thinner than non-smokers. A study of people aged over 16 years, (all non-smokers), showed that both men and women who had higher levels of obesity at the start of the study were at a greater risk from all cancers, and the increased risks for some cancers – such as kidney and uterus for women and liver for men - were dramatic.
It is also reported that the mass of body fat, particularly in the abdomen, contributes directly to cancer risk. Adipose tissue (fat cells) secrete a wide range of many different hormones. This may explain why there is a higher risk of breast cancer amongst obese women.
A large number of new cancers could be avoided if people managed their weight more effectively through diet and exercise.