Excess weight tied to higher risk for many cancers: Study

Staying slim throughout your life might lower your risk of developing at least eight types of cancer, an international cancer research group says. Those include cancers of the stomach, liver, gallbladder, pancreas, ovary and thyroid. The list also includes a form of brain cancer known as meningioma, as well as a type of blood cancer called multiple myeloma.
What's more, the latest research builds on the findings of an earlier review by the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC), which is part of the World Health Organization. That research found that those who avoid gaining weight can curtail their risk for developing five other types of cancer, including cancer of the colon, esophagus, kidney, breast and uterus.
"The review certainly concluded crystal clear, as you say, that obesity causes cancer," noted Dr. Graham Colditz, who chaired the IARC review group. "And hence the conclusion that there is cancer prevention through avoiding obesity."
Dr. Clifford Hudis, chief executive officer of the American Society of Clinical Oncology, reacted to the findings with caution, stressing that "cause and effect is not proven."
He added that it's premature to conclude that "obesity is the cause of any individual's cancer."
"All we can say is that there is an association between obesity and increased risk of many common malignancies," he noted.
But if obesity does play a role in cancer risk, the stakes are enormous. For example, IARC researchers point to data gathered in 2013 and 2014 that indicated that roughly 640 million adults and 110 million children and adolescents are now obese worldwide. In the United States, nearly 71 percent of adults over 20 are overweight or obese, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
The study authors added that carrying excess weight -- whether in the form of being overweight or obese -- is, in fact, responsible for the death (due to any cause) of roughly 4.5 million men and women worldwide every year.
    Current Health News

Excess weight tied to higher risk for many cancers: Study

Staying slim throughout your life might lower your risk of developing at least eight types of cancer, an international cancer research group says. Those include cancers of the stomach, liver, gallbladder, pancreas, ovary and thyroid. The list also includes a form of brain cancer known as meningioma, as well as a type of blood cancer called multiple myeloma. Whats more, the latest research builds on the findings of an earlier review by the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC), which is part of the World Health Organization. That research found that those who avoid gaining weight can curtail their risk for developing five other types of cancer, including cancer of the colon, esophagus, kidney, breast and uterus. The review certainly concluded crystal clear, as you say, that obesity causes cancer, noted Dr. Graham Colditz, who chaired the IARC review group. And hence the conclusion that there is cancer prevention through avoiding obesity. Dr. Clifford Hudis, chief executive officer of the American Society of Clinical Oncology, reacted to the findings with caution, stressing that cause and effect is not proven. He added that its premature to conclude that obesity is the cause of any individuals cancer. All we can say is that there is an association between obesity and increased risk of many common malignancies, he noted. But if obesity does play a role in cancer risk, the stakes are enormous. For example, IARC researchers point to data gathered in 2013 and 2014 that indicated that roughly 640 million adults and 110 million children and adolescents are now obese worldwide. In the United States, nearly 71 percent of adults over 20 are overweight or obese, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The study authors added that carrying excess weight -- whether in the form of being overweight or obese -- is, in fact, responsible for the death (due to any cause) of roughly 4.5 million men and women worldwide every year. Current Health News