Researchers at Manchester University have found a link between weight gain and cancer. The findings will be presented at a National Cancer Research Institute conference in Liverpool.
The Daily Mail reported that men who gain 2 stones (2st) and 7 pounds (7lb) within their teenage years to retirement are at a high risk of getting cancer by 50 percent. The risk of cancer rises by about 20 percent over a lifetime for women who put on 3st 7lb.
The study by Manchester University researchers bring new light on how weight gain is linked to cancer. For both sexes, it can result to kidney and bowel cancer. For women specifically, breast and womb cancer are common effects of weight gain as well.
The exact reason on why weight gain causes cancer is unknown yet. It was noted, though, that excess fat is believed to produce hormones that help the development of cancer cells.
Manchester University's study involved 300,000 people in the United States. They recorded changes in men and women's body mass indexes (BMIs) aged 18 to 65 for those who developed obesity-related cancers.
"This research shows how important it is to look at weight gain over a person's lifetime - to give a clearer picture of cancer risk through life compared to assessing someone's BMI at a single point," lead author Dr. Hannah Lennon said. "This study could also be really useful in public health. It could help identify people who would benefit the most from taking action to control their weight before any health problems arise."
According to The Scotsman, the findings were shown at the National Cancer Research Institute's (NCRI) Cancer Conference in Liverpool. It is funded by Cancer Research UK.
"It's important that people are informed about ways to reduce their risk of cancer," Sir Harpal Kumar, chief executive of Cancer Research UK said. "And while there are no guarantees against the disease, keeping a healthy weight can help you stack the odds in your favor and has lots of other benefits, too."
