Obesity and Cancer

Monday, October 5, 2009

Obesity & Cancer

Obesity shown to cause cancer

Researchers have shown that obesity could be a leading cause of cancer in women. Obesity is responsible for 8 percent of all the cancers in Europe.

Some studies have shown that in the United States, obesity was responsible for almost 20 percent of all cancers. Scientists believe that with more people quitting smoking, obesity may soon become the leading cause of cancer within the next decade or so.

Of all the cancers linked to being overweight, colorectal cancer, breast cancer, and endometrial cancer accounted for 65 percent.

Although scientists are unsure of why obesity can cause cancer, they believe that it has to do with the fact that more hormones are released with obesity. Hormones like estrogen, secreted in excess, could help tumors grow.

Source: Associated Press