According to Glen Weldon, the American Institute for Cancer Research educational director, the center’s researchers have found that excess body fat is responsible for more than 100,000 cancer cases each year. This report was released on 11/5/09, and reported by CNN on 11/06/09. This study helps underscore the importance of getting rid of your fat – especially losing your fat stomach.
Seven cancers are known to have links to obesity. The American Institute for Cancer Research looked at these cancers, and calculated the number of cases that were likely caused by obesity.
The findings were that a whopping 49% of endometrial cancers are caused excess body fat. Of the seven cancers studied, these are the numbers that were attributed to excess fat:
– 49% endometrial cancer
– 35% esophageal cancer
– 28% pancreatic cancer
– 24% kidney cancer
– 21% gallbladder cancer
– 17% breast cancer
– 09% colorectal cancer
Weldon reported that “Obesity not only raises the risk for getting cancer, it also has a negative effect on survival and can make treatment more difficult.”
He also stated: “This is the first time that we’ve put real, quantifiable case numbers on obesity-related cancers”.
Excess body fat releases estrogen into the body. Scientists hypothesize that this excess estrogen could be the problem in cancers such as estrogen-receptor positive breast cancers. It is also known that increased body fat leads to increased levels of oxidative stress and inflammatory compounds in the blood. These compounds are linked to DNA mutation and diseased cell growth, as is seen in many cancers.
Dr. Michael Thun, vice president emeritus at the American Cancer Society, applauded the new research.
While this research does point out the problem, it is up to the reader to decide what to do about it. This new study, plus the fact that obesity is a known cause of heart disease, diabetes, high blood pressure and strokes, underscores the need to get rid of excess body fat. This is especially true for those individuals with an “apple” shape who tends to have a fat stomach.
Here’s a great way to learn how to burn belly fat.
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This article is a real eye opener. I had a body analysis a few weeks ago and was mortified that my body fat % was 39.1%. At the time I weighed 174 which is most definitely very overweight for my 5’6″ height but not grossly obese. That means that 68 pounds of me is fat and not bone, muscle, and water and that is just gross! It helps me tremendously to see the health ramifications of not taking care of myself. Thanks for sharing.
My reason for getting on the MariMethod is because my problem is belly fat and I know it increases health
risks such as cancer or diabetes or stroke.
Articles like these are so helpful. As we all strive to stay as fit as we can it is easier to make the right choices when it comes time to put food into our mouth when you know what can happen to your body. No one wants to increase their chance of getting cancer on purpose. So not only will Mari help us get our body in shape she will also educate us with information that will change our lives.
Thank you Mari!!!