Obesity - defined as having a body mass index (BMI) of 30 or higher - is a major problem in the US, affecting more than a third of adults and almost a fifth of children and adolescents. If this study is right it's a huge increase.
Women who are obese are around 40% more likely to develop certain forms of cancer than those of a healthy weight. This is according to new estimates calculated by Cancer Research UK.
Obese women are at a 41% higher lifetime risk of developing a weight-related cancer than women of a healthy weight, the new statistics show.
Obesity - defined as having a body mass index (BMI) of 30 or higher - is a major problem in the US, affecting more than a third of adults and almost a fifth of children and adolescents.
It is well established that obesity can increase cancer risk. According to the American Cancer Society, excess body weight may contribute to cancer development through a number of mechanisms. It can interfere with immune system function, for example, or affect levels of hormones - such as estrogen and insulin - to drive cancer development.
The following shows the increased lifetime cancer risk for obese women by cancer type, compared with women of a healthy weight:
Breast cancer (postmenopausal) - 25%
Pancreas cancer - 31%
Bowel cancer - 32%
Kidney cancer - 78%
Gallbladder cancer - 100%
Uterus (endometrium) cancer - 131%
Esophageal cancer - 133%.
Women who are obese are around 40% more likely to develop certain forms of cancer than those of a healthy weight. This is according to new estimates calculated by Cancer Research UK.
Obese women are at a 41% higher lifetime risk of developing a weight-related cancer than women of a healthy weight, the new statistics show.
Obesity - defined as having a body mass index (BMI) of 30 or higher - is a major problem in the US, affecting more than a third of adults and almost a fifth of children and adolescents.
It is well established that obesity can increase cancer risk. According to the American Cancer Society, excess body weight may contribute to cancer development through a number of mechanisms. It can interfere with immune system function, for example, or affect levels of hormones - such as estrogen and insulin - to drive cancer development.
The following shows the increased lifetime cancer risk for obese women by cancer type, compared with women of a healthy weight:
Breast cancer (postmenopausal) - 25%
Pancreas cancer - 31%
Bowel cancer - 32%
Kidney cancer - 78%
Gallbladder cancer - 100%
Uterus (endometrium) cancer - 131%
Esophageal cancer - 133%.