Obesity and being overweight increases risk of getting 13 types of cancer

People frequently misunderstand or have no idea that there is a very distinct correlation between obesity or being overweight and cancer.

A report by the US Centre for Disease Control and Prevention released in early October showed that just over 600, 000 Americans had been diagnosed with cancer and obesity-related illnesses in 2014 alone with 2/3 occurring in adults aged between 50 and 74.

The reason why being overweight increases the risk of cancer is due to abnormalities in metabolism caused by the extra weight.

According to the International Agency for Research on Cancer, there are 13 types of cancer associated with obesity.

They are: meningioma, multiple myeloma, adenocarcinoma of the oesophagus, and cancers of the thyroid, postmenopausal breast, gallbladder, stomach, liver, pancreas, kidney, ovaries, uterus, colon and rectum (colorectal).

In the study, it was found that 55% of all cancers diagnosed in women are associated with obesity and it was 24% among men.

Between 2005 and 2014, obesity related cancers have increased worldwide, while non-obesity related cancers have reduced.

To prevent the rise of this, individuals are encouraged to get and maintain a healthy weight. Tracking this can be done using Body Mass Index (BMI) which is a person’s mass (in kg) against the height divided by the square of the person’s height (in meters).

If you have a BMI of: Under 18.5 – you are considered underweight and possibly malnourished. 18.5 to 24.9 – you are within a healthy weight range for young and middle-aged adults. 25.0 to 29.9 – you are considered overweight. Over 30 – you are considered obese.

“As an oncologist, when people ask me if there’s a cure for cancer, I say, ‘Yes, good health is the best prescription for preventing chronic diseases, including cancer,’” said Lisa C. Richardson, M.D., M.P.H., director of CDC’s Division of Cancer Prevention and Control.

“What that means to healthcare providers like me is helping people to have the information they need to make healthy choices where they live, work, learn, and play.”