Demi
Fri, Feb-15-08, 03:31
The Telegraph
London, UK
15 February, 2008
Extra two stones boosts risk of cancer
1 stone = 14lb
The chance of developing five different types of cancer increases by 50 per cent if your weight goes up by more than two stones, according to new research.
A study at the University of Manchester found that those who put on weight equivalent to a five-point increase in the body mass index (BMI) were at significant risk of contracting cancer of the colon, breast, skin, thyroid.
The increase in BMI is equivalent to two-and-a-half stones (18.9kg) for a healthy man of average height, 5ft 9ins (1.75m), and almost two stones (12.6kg) for a healthy woman of average height, 5ft 4ins (1.63m).
Men who gained that amount of weight were 50 per cent more likely to develop oesophageal cancer and a third more likely to suffer thyroid cancer. Their chances of getting colon and kidney cancer increase by 24 per cent; they are also at a smaller but significant risk of rectal and skin cancer.
Women who are similarly overweight increase their chances of cancer of the womb lining and gallbladder by 59 per cent. They also have more than a 50 per cent increased risk of oesophageal cancer and are a third more likely to develop kidney cancer.
The chances of women getting pancreatic, thyroid, and colon cancer increased significantly if they were overweight, but were not as great as the risk for men.
The findings, published in the medical journal The Lancet, come at a time when more than one in four Britons are classed as obese and there are fears of an epidemic of weight related health problems.
The research shows that both sexes were also more at risk of leukaemia, multiple melanoma, a cancer of the blood cells, and non-Hodgkin lymphoma.
The team at Manchester University studied almost 300,000 cases involving 20 different types of cancer to determine the effect of a five-point increase in BMI.
A person's BMI is calculated by dividing weight in kilograms by height in metres squared. Scientists classify a person as overweight if they have a BMI of between 25 and 29.9, and as obese if the BMI is more than 30.
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/graphics/2008/02/15/ncancer115big.gif
Dr Andrew G Renehan, of the University of Manchester Christie Hospital NHS Foundation Trust, who led the study, said it showed "increased BMI is associated with an increased risk of several cancers in adults".
He recommended that scientists consider the differing rates of risk between the sexes to discover what links obesity and cancer.
Dr Colin Waine, chairman of the National Obesity Forum, said the findings were "very alarming". He said scientists had known of the association between obesity and cancers of the womb lining, breast, colon, kidney and gullet but had not known the extent of the link. "We mainly think of obesity alongside diabetes and cardiometabolic disease but it is clear now that the risk of cancer needs to be treated just as seriously," he said.
Ed Yong, from Cancer Research, said the research showed the importance of maintaining a healthy diet and taking exercise. He said: "After avoiding smoking, maintaining a healthy body weight is one of the most important steps we can all take to reduce our risk of cancer."
Last year, a similar study linked obesity with six major cancers.
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/main.jhtml?xml=/news/2008/02/15/ncancer115.xml
London, UK
15 February, 2008
Extra two stones boosts risk of cancer
1 stone = 14lb
The chance of developing five different types of cancer increases by 50 per cent if your weight goes up by more than two stones, according to new research.
A study at the University of Manchester found that those who put on weight equivalent to a five-point increase in the body mass index (BMI) were at significant risk of contracting cancer of the colon, breast, skin, thyroid.
The increase in BMI is equivalent to two-and-a-half stones (18.9kg) for a healthy man of average height, 5ft 9ins (1.75m), and almost two stones (12.6kg) for a healthy woman of average height, 5ft 4ins (1.63m).
Men who gained that amount of weight were 50 per cent more likely to develop oesophageal cancer and a third more likely to suffer thyroid cancer. Their chances of getting colon and kidney cancer increase by 24 per cent; they are also at a smaller but significant risk of rectal and skin cancer.
Women who are similarly overweight increase their chances of cancer of the womb lining and gallbladder by 59 per cent. They also have more than a 50 per cent increased risk of oesophageal cancer and are a third more likely to develop kidney cancer.
The chances of women getting pancreatic, thyroid, and colon cancer increased significantly if they were overweight, but were not as great as the risk for men.
The findings, published in the medical journal The Lancet, come at a time when more than one in four Britons are classed as obese and there are fears of an epidemic of weight related health problems.
The research shows that both sexes were also more at risk of leukaemia, multiple melanoma, a cancer of the blood cells, and non-Hodgkin lymphoma.
The team at Manchester University studied almost 300,000 cases involving 20 different types of cancer to determine the effect of a five-point increase in BMI.
A person's BMI is calculated by dividing weight in kilograms by height in metres squared. Scientists classify a person as overweight if they have a BMI of between 25 and 29.9, and as obese if the BMI is more than 30.
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/graphics/2008/02/15/ncancer115big.gif
Dr Andrew G Renehan, of the University of Manchester Christie Hospital NHS Foundation Trust, who led the study, said it showed "increased BMI is associated with an increased risk of several cancers in adults".
He recommended that scientists consider the differing rates of risk between the sexes to discover what links obesity and cancer.
Dr Colin Waine, chairman of the National Obesity Forum, said the findings were "very alarming". He said scientists had known of the association between obesity and cancers of the womb lining, breast, colon, kidney and gullet but had not known the extent of the link. "We mainly think of obesity alongside diabetes and cardiometabolic disease but it is clear now that the risk of cancer needs to be treated just as seriously," he said.
Ed Yong, from Cancer Research, said the research showed the importance of maintaining a healthy diet and taking exercise. He said: "After avoiding smoking, maintaining a healthy body weight is one of the most important steps we can all take to reduce our risk of cancer."
Last year, a similar study linked obesity with six major cancers.
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/main.jhtml?xml=/news/2008/02/15/ncancer115.xml