There is mounting evidence that shows there is a clear link between obesity and the risk of developing cancer. These cancers include bowel cancer, breast cancer, pancreatic cancer, uterine cancer, kidney cancer and oesophageal cancer. The link between obesity (or being overweight) and cancer is thought to be primarily related to the chronic inflammation that is caused by the excess fatty tissue that surrounds your important organs in your abdomen.
This excessive fat around your abdominal organs modifies the way certain hormones such as insulin and oestrogen act in your body and can lead to such problems as insulin resistance which is when the body does not respond to insulin. Insulin resistance can promote an increase in cell production and if this is excessive it can lead to tumour formation. In a similar way, being overweight can result in higher oestrogen levels which can cause increased cell division and tumour growth.
One of the best ways to decrease your risk of cancer is to maintain a healthy weight. There are several ways to do this. These include exercise, eating a healthy and balanced diet, and limiting your alcohol intake. People that have had weight loss surgery have a 33% lower risk of developing any type of cancer.
