Strong Obesity and Cancer Link Now Absolutely Confirmed
by www.SixWise.com
Excess weight can now officially be added to the growing
number of factors that contribute to cancer, according to
the UK's Million Women Study.
The study, which included more than 1 million UK women, found
that 5 percent of all cancers in the UK -- or about 6,000
cases each year -- are caused by being overweight or obese.
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It's estimated that 90,000 cancer deaths could be prevented
every year in the United States if Americans maintained
healthy weights.
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The team found that increasing body mass index (BMI, a standard
for measuring your weight to height ratio) was associated
with a significant increase in the risk of cancer for 10 of
the 17 cancer types they examined. Excess weight, they found,
contributes to cancers of the:
Excess weight was also linked to leukemia, multiple myeloma
and non-Hodgkin's lymphoma.
For the Million Women Study, overweight was defined as having
a body mass index between 25 and 29.9, while obesity was defined
as a BMI of 30 or more.
Obesity Rivals Smoking as a Major Cancer Causer
A separate study released shortly prior to the Million Women
Study further confirmed the link between obesity and cancer.
The 500-page report, "Food, Nutrition, Physical Activity,
and the Prevention of Cancer: a Global Perspective" --
put together by the American Institute for Cancer Research
and the World Cancer Research Fund -- analyzed more than 7,000
clinical trials.
It found that obesity now causes nearly as many cases of
cancer as smoking, and may one day surpass it.
"This is the first report that clearly shows that the
fatter we are, the greater the risk of cancer. It's remarkable
how clear that link is," said report co-author Dr. W.
Philip James in a CBS News article.
And Dr. Emily Senay, an Early Show medical correspondent,
called the report "eye-opening," and stressed that
it "is clearer than ever. Even small amounts of excess
body fat, especially around the middle, can make cancer more
likely."
While the new reports serve to strengthen the obesity/cancer
link, their findings are not new.
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You shouldn't starve yourself to lose weight, just
add more fruits and veggies to your diet, limit those
high in sugar and trans fats, and get as much physical
activity as you can.
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A study published in the New England Journal of Medicine
back in 2003 also found that being overweight and obese can
cause cancer. According to these findings, overweight and
obesity may account for 20 percent of all cancer deaths among
U.S. women, and 14 percent of those among men.
In all, the study found that 90,000 cancer deaths could be
prevented every year if Americans maintained healthy body
weights.
How to Maintain Your Ideal Weight
According to a 2002 American Cancer Society survey, just
1 percent of Americans associated maintaining a healthy weight
with reducing their cancer risk.
But now that the evidence is out, there is even more motivation
to lose any excess pounds you may be holding on to.
So how do you shed those pounds, or avoid gaining them, when
you live in an obesogenic
environment that tempts you with cheap junk food and often
keeps you chained to your desk for much of the day? Here are
the top tips.
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Limit your weight gain during adulthood to less than
11 pounds. This means, if you're currently at a healthy
weight, add 11 pounds to that number, and, no matter what
happens, don't let yourself slide over it.
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Get moving. Physical activity, on most days of
the week, will help you to stay slim. Been awhile since
you've exercised? Check out How
to Most Effectively Start Working Out When You Haven't
Exercised in Years.
Proper stretching is also an excellent tool for weight
loss. It helps to reduce stress, which can reduce your
urge to eat, and improves your body's visual tone and
appearance. The Stretching
Toward a Healthier Life DVD has all the stretches
you need to stay toned and flexible, and you can do them
all in just 15-20 minutes a day.
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Eat more fruits and veggies. Eating more fruits
and vegetables helps you to eat fewer calories while still
feeling satisfied. Plus, these foods give your body plenty
of vitamins, minerals, phytochemicals and fiber that fight
cancer.
An excellent guide to get more fruits and veggies in
your diet is Alive
in 5: Raw Gourmet Meals in Five Minutes. You'll learn
how to prepare delicious raw meals that are healthy for
you and your family, and can be prepared in just five
minutes.
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Limit added sugars in your diet in foods like soft
drinks, candy, cake, cookies, pies and fruit drinks.
Also, bake, grill, steam or broil food instead
of frying it.
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Watch your portion size. Overeating will lead
to weight gain, even if you're overeating healthy foods.
When you take your next meal, try serving yourself a little
less than you usually eat, and then stop eating when you're
full -- not when your plate is clean.
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Watch out for "high-risk" weight gain periods.
For women, these periods are related to hormonal changes
and occur after menstruation begins, after pregnancy and
after menopause. For men, these periods are related to
a less active lifestyle and occur after marriage, after
taking a sedentary job and after no longer playing team
sports. During these times, you may need to be especially
careful about what you eat or sticking to your exercise
routine to keep the weight off.
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Reduce stress in your life. Stress
has been proven to cause weight gain in women. You
can relieve stress and burn calories by exercising --
it increases the levels of endorphins in your body, which
stimulate your immune system, reduce stress and put you
in a better mood. You can also try out the Pure
Relaxation CD -- a Sixwise.com favorite for before
bed or anytime you're having one of THOSE days.
Recommended Reading
Norway
Seriously Considers an Obesity Tax. Should the U.S. Impose
One Too?
The
Hidden Burdens of Obesity: Greater Sensitivity to Pain, More
Prone to Fatal Auto Crashes & More
Sources
British
Medical Journal November 6, 2007
The
New England Journal of Medicine, April 2003, Vol. 348, No.
17: 1625-1638
CBS
News October 31, 2007