In a study, researchers found that obesity is linked to eight more types of cancer and that losing body fat can help lower these cancer risks.
The eight types of cancer include a type of brain tumor, a type of stomach cancer, liver cancer, gallbladder cancer, pancreatic cancer, ovary cancer, thyroid cancer, and blood cancer.
Previously, the International Agency for Research on Cancer reported that losing body fat could help lower the risk of five cancers, including colon cancer, esophagus cancer, kidney cancer, breast cancer, and corpus uteri cancers.
This means that weight loss can help prevent 13 cancers.
It is estimated that about 640 million adults in 2014 and 110 million children and teenagers in 2013 are obese.
In men, about 11% have obesity. In women, about 15% are obese.
Previous research has shown that obesity can be caused by unhealthy lifestyle habits, such as overeating and lack of physical activity.
In the current study, the team review about 1000 published studies. These studies reported BMI, waist circumference, and body weight in participants.
The researchers found that all three measurements are linked to cancer risk.
Moreover, research data on weight loss suggest that intentional body weight loss could reduce the risk of most types of cancer.
The researchers explain that excess body fat can lead to an overproduction of estrogen, testosterone, and insulin, which can contribute to cancer growth.
They suggest that reducing calorie intake to limit weight gain may help prevent tumor development or progression.
In addition, weight loss programs should be included in cancer prevention for people at high risks.
The study is published in The New England Journal of Medicine.
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