Does Obesity Cause Cancer?

The link between overweight and cancer risk

Does obesity cause cancer? The cancer is one of the leading causes of death worldwide and the obesity rate has also doubled in the last 40 years. Now, an international review of scientific studies published by the British Medical Journal has attempted to identify the types of cancer-associated most palpably with obesity, eliminating biases that can lead to errors.

Does obesity cause cancer

In total 204 studies have been studied examining the relationship between obesity, weight gain, abdominal circumference and 36 types of cancer. The team, led by Imperial College London (United Kingdom) found that having 5 kilograms more than what is considered a healthy body weight (according to BMI) increased the risk of rectal cancer in men by 9% and 56% for liver and gallbladder cancer.

For every 5 kg more we increase our risk of cancer. The risk of postmenopausal breast cancer among women who never had hormone replacement therapy increased by 11% for every 5 kg of weight gain. Obesity was also related to the esophagus, uterus and kidney cancer in this case. Specifically, the scientists identified up to 11 types of cancer that get worse when you are obese: breast, ovarian, kidney, pancreas, colon, rectum, marrow, endometrium, multiple and gastric myeloma.

Does obesity cause cancer?

The data is clear. ” Being overweight is the second largest cause of cancer that is preventable after smoking, whether climbing the stairs or shifting to sugar-free drinks, little adjustments can produce a tangible difference, helping to maintain a healthy body weight and reduce the risk of cancer, “says Rachel Orritt, head of UK Cancer Research, who was not involved in the study. Reducing our weight can, therefore, be a good strategy to reduce the chances of cancer.

Obesity causes more cases of cancer than tobacco (and is increasing).

UK Cancer Research, an NGO that researches and raises awareness about cancer in the United Kingdom, has announced a release that obesity causes more types of cancer than smoking tobacco. Specifically, the study points to four types of cancer: ovarian, bowel, kidney and liver. However, his new campaign to warn of the dangers of overweight has been severely criticized.

These are cigarette packages but labeled with a message: “Obesity is also a cause of cancer.” In addition, they carry another text in which you can read that “Like smoking, obesity puts millions of adults at serious risk of cancer.” In social networks, many people support the campaign, while others believe that those who are overweight are pointing their finger.

Cigarette package labeled with a message: "obesity is a cause of cancer too."

The figures shown by the BBC do not deceive. They compare the number of cancer cases in the United Kingdom and how they have been caused:

Bowel cancer: there are 42,000 new cases a year: obesity causes 4,800 and tobacco, 2,900.

Kidney cancer: there are 12,900 new cases: obesity causes 2,900 and smoking, 1,600.

Liver cancer: there are 5,900 new cases: obesity causes 1,300 and smoking, 1,200.

Ovarian cancer: there are 7,500 new cases: obesity causes 490 cases and smoking, 25.

Reducible figures – around 40% of cancer cases could be prevented

The NGO does not blame the obese individuals but advises that their number can be reduced. Moreover, obesity is the most significant cause of preventable cancer and, on the other hand, smoking figures only go down in the UK, the obese persons should try their best to follow the reverse way: the more.

One-fifth of the population of Britan is suffering from obesity. That is to say that 13 million out of 66 million of Britain population have the problem of overweight and from the NGO influence researches that have previously noted the connection between cancer and obesity: the studies show that fat cells have the tendency of producing more hormones that induce cell division more often than other body cells, this raises the possibility of producing more cancerous cells.

Being overweight is not synonymous with cancer, but increasing the risk. Cancer Research UK explains that thirteen kinds of cancer are linked to obesity: breast, intestine, pancreas, esophagus, liver, kidney, gallbladder, uterus, ovaries, thyroid myeloma, meningioma, and upper stomach.

Obese person

 Recommendations to Prevent Cancer

Now that you know the answer to the question – does obesity cause cancer, it’s time to take care of it. Maintain a healthy weight and avoid gaining weight in adult life. Be active as part of everyday life, walk more, spend less time sitting. Make whole grains, fruits, vegetables and legumes, such as lentils, the most important part of your daily diet. Limit the consumption of fast food and processed foods rich in fats, sugars, and starches.

Do not eat more than moderate amounts of red meat, such as veal, pork, and lamb. Eat very little, or nothing, of processed meat. Drink water and unsweetened drinks. To prevent cancer, it is best not to drink alcohol.

Breastfeeding is beneficial for mother and baby. And it puts on the table that to prevent the onset of this disease, the quality of the global diet is more important and to maintain active aging than for example the consumption of a certain nutrient or organic compound, such as acrylamide.

“It is unlikely that specific foods or nutrients are unique key factors that cause or protect against cancer. Instead, the combination of different patterns of diet and physical activity throughout life are those that influence you more or less susceptible to developing cancer,” said Giota Mitrou, of the WCRF, during the 25th European Congress of obesity.

The “planetary health diet

As I mentioned before, to prevent the onset of this disease, the quality of the global diet and maintaining active aging are of the highest importance.

The study also links the regular consumption of sugary drinks with an increased risk of cancer, since these fluids contribute to weight gain. Stresses that leading a physically active life has a direct protective effect on the colon, breast (post-menopause) and uterine cancer, in addition to helping to maintain adequate weight, which reduces the overall risk.

Remember that alcohol consumption is strongly linked to an increased risk of developing six types of tumors, colorectal, breast, liver, mouth, and neck, esophagus and stomach. And it recommends a diet rich in whole grains, vegetables, fruits, and legumes, with low consumption of red meat.

One in six deaths on the planet every year is due to cancer. In Europe, there are more than 3.7 million new cases per year and 1.9 million deaths, and it is the second leading cause of death. Paradoxically, despite the fact that the European continent only accounts for an eighth of the world’s population, it accounts for a quarter of all global cancer cases.

16 Cancer-Causing Foods to Avoid

Foods that are bad for your health

There are so many preservatives, chemicals and artificial sweeteners that are floating around in your local grocery store these days. The latest crazes in natural foods and drinks are not for nothing, they are borne out of an era where consumers have more access to information about what it is that they are eating and drinking. This list of 16 cancer-causing foods is specifically to target foods that have been linked to cancer.

Normally, processed foods are safe to consume in moderation but since these foods have been proven to cause cancer, you may want to be extra cautious with them.

the list of 16 cancer-causing food you eat every day

16 cancer-causing foods you should try to avoid

  1. Microwave Popcorn: Yes, that buttery, salty scent and that popping sound in the microwave is so hard to resist but doing so could save your life. The microwave version for popcorn has a lot of carcinogenic chemicals in it including the particular chemical that makes it taste like butter. Try a stovetop batch of popcorn instead and make your own buttery topping!

  2. Non-organic Produce: Unlike organic produce, this has the possibility of being covered in pesticides that could potentially cause cancer. There are some pesticides that are legal in the US but banned in Europe, so be extra cautious in the United States with non-organic fruits and veggies. Be sure to wash them, but that is still not a guaranteed defense against pesticides.

  3. Canned Tomatoes: Of course, the tomatoes themselves are super healthy but the lining in the cans is where the trouble starts. The chemicals in these cans can present challenges to the hormonal activity in your body and they can seep into the tomatoes because of their level of acidity. Glass jars are actually much safer, so try going with that next time or just using fresh tomatoes.

  4. Processed Meats: Deli meats are delicious and versatile and have so many yummy options for your tummy, but be cautious with your quantities! These meats are packed with preservatives that are also known to be dangerous carcinogens. They are also full of salt and chemicals that are each cancer-inducing.

  5. Farm-raised Seafood: We all know that fish is good for your health, but where it is caught or raised can have an impact on just how healthy that piece of fish is for you. Fish farms tend to feed their creatures unnatural products and use a lot of antibiotics and other chemicals to keep the fish “clean”. That cleanliness is really just on the surface because all of the products that are used can potentially cause harm to the human body when eaten in large quantities. Go with freshly caught seafood when you can!

  6. Potato Chips: Mmmm the crispy, salty goodness is always a temptation but try to leave them out of your cupboards as much as you can. These foods are seriously packed with preservatives and carcinogens and can cause so many ailments for you. Cancer is the far end of that spectrum, but they can contribute to high blood pressure, diabetes and cholesterol if you’re not careful.

  7. Hydrogenated Oils: Not all oils are bad for you in moderation, the oils that are natural are what you should be sticking with. Olive oil, almond oil, coconut oil, and others are healthy and the best options for cooking. However, there is another type of oil that has to be cultivated chemically and can’t be produced naturally and those are hydrogenated oils. These are terrible for your health and can cause birth defects and heart disease on top of the potential for cancer. Avoid at all costs!

  8. Salty, Pickled and Smoked Foods: These foods are generally processed with nitrate, which is a preservative that changes composition inside of our bodies. This preservative has been linked with many different cancers and presents serious risks when not monitored closely.

  9. Processed White Flour: You’ve been told for years that white flour isn’t that great for you, but you may not be aware of the reason why. The flour is bleached with chlorine gas, which actually kills the healthy nutrients in the flour. If you were to breathe chlorine gas in, you would die so it is not much of a surprise that eating food that has been bleached with it can cause cancer.

  10. GMO’s: GMO’s are one of the 16 cancer-causing foods of questionable origin. Not sure of what that means either? Genetically Modified Organisms or GMO’s are natural organisms that have been enhanced with chemicals and are therefore no longer considered organic. The modifications that are done and the kinds of hormones that are used can create many different kinds of cancers and are terrible for our health.

  11. Refined Sugars: You hear a lot about refined sugar causing diabetes, but they can cause certain types of cancers too if they are not eaten in moderation. One of the most common types is high-fructose corn syrup and it has one of the highest rates of cancer on this list!

  12. Artificial Sweeteners: Things that say they are sugar-free are not necessarily healthier for you. The chemicals that are used in artificial sweeteners can be way more damaging to your health than regular or even refined sugars! Try using natural honey to sweeten the things that you want to eat and drink rather than anything manufactured.

  13. Diet or Low-Fat Foods: These follow similar rules to the artificial sweeteners in that they use chemicals to make up for the fat and sugar that they are cutting out. The chemicals are almost always worse than the items that you are trying to cut out, so be aware of that and try to go natural! Just be aware of the amount of fat in the natural foods that you’re eating instead.

  14. Alcohol: The amount of sugar can be unhealthy but generally with alcohol, the big problems come with drinking to excess. Always keep your drinking in check and don’t hesitate to seek help if you feel that you are having trouble stepping away from it. Count your drinks every week and make sure to moderate.

  15. Red Meat: Natural red meat is good for you in small doses but make sure that it is grass-fed and natural. Beef that is fed with corn can pose problems for your body because that is not what cows are designed to eat. Additionally, they may have antibiotics or other chemicals to stave off things like worms.

  16. Soft Drinks: These are probably one of the worst foods on this list. These drinks contain high-fructose corn syrup, artificial sweeteners, carcinogens and anything else that you are trying to avoid.

The bottom line

So these are the 16 cancer-causing foods that you should try to avoid and replace with healthier nutrition. Highly processed foods contain a lot of unhealthy fats, salt, sugar and other chemical additives.

In addition, it is a food that contains a combination of ingredients that can eventually affect the onset of the disease. Don’t be swayed by the bright colors or fun commercials! To be safe, it’s wise to stay away.