| Over the last few years, several studies have | | | | develop. Meanwhile, being obese also weakens the |
| begun to shed light on the connection between | | | | body's natural cancer-fighting mechanisms. |
| cancer and obesity. For overweight people, the | | | | Which Types of Cancer are Caused by Obesity? |
| news isn't good. In the U.S., as many as 100,000 | | | | Among obese women, there is an increased |
| cancer cases diagnosed each year could be | | | | incidence of breast cancer and uterine cancer. |
| prevented if people simply lost weight. That's | | | | When it comes to uterine cancer, obesity may |
| about 6% of all of the cancer cases. With obesity | | | | account for as much as 40 percent of all cases. |
| and overweight increasing in virtually every | | | | The connection is not so strong with breast |
| developed country in the world, these are | | | | cancer, but researchers say that it is definitely |
| numbers that we need to take very seriously. | | | | there, particularly in post-menopausal women. |
| Obesity and Cancer | | | | In men, obesity is associated with higher rates of |
| People with obesity tend to be more unhealthy in | | | | colon cancer. This connection does not exist in |
| a variety of categories, not just when it comes | | | | women. Doctors think that the fact that men |
| to cancer risk. They also have higher incidence of | | | | store excess fat around the abdomen, while |
| cardiovascular disease, diabetes, stroke, sleep | | | | women store it in other areas, is the reason for |
| apnea, and high blood pressure. Additionally, people | | | | this difference. Something about having excess |
| with obesity tend to have a lower quality-of-life, | | | | fat around the body's mid-section contributes to |
| and they often face bias and other social | | | | contamination of the digestive system, leading to |
| problems. | | | | colon cancer. |
| In other words, while obesity directly contributes | | | | Finally, the other major type of cancer that is |
| to certain forms of cancer, other aspects of an | | | | commonly associated with obesity is esophageal |
| obese person's lifestyle certainly do not help. | | | | cancer, particularly a form called adenocarcinoma. |
| How does it happen? Basically, excess fat causes | | | | While this requires more study, many doctors |
| the body to produce excessive amounts of | | | | think that the prevalence of acid reflux in obese |
| hormones such as insulin and estrogen. When | | | | people may have something to do with this type |
| there is too much of these chemicals in the body, | | | | of cancer. |
| certain types of cancer are more likely to | | | | |