Women's cancer risk may increase the longer they're obese

Conclusion This study adds to evidence that being overweight or obese for long periods of time may increase the risk of certain cancers, just as it increases the risk of cardiovascular disease and diabetes. The study's size and use of BMI measurements over time mean it is likely to be more reliable than smaller studies, or those that look at BMI only at one time point. The design allows researchers to look at how weight during a lifetime, rather than at one single point in life, may affect cancer risk. However, there are limitations. It's an observational study, so while researchers took account of known confounding factors such as smoking and exercise, it's always possible some factors were not accounted for. This means the study cannot prove that overweight directly caused cancer. The other main concern is that it relied on women remembering and correctly reporting their weight decades earlier, at ages 18 and 35. These caveats aside, the study is a serious attempt to quantify the risk that overweight and obesity contribute to cancer risk. Obesity levels have been rising in recent decades and figures from Public Health England show 65% of men and 58% of women in England were overweight or obese in 2014. The best way to keep to a healthy weight throughout life is to eat a healthy, balanced diet and take plenty of exercise. Some people struggle with their weight more than others, and it can be hard to shift weight once you've put it on. If you're worried about your weight ...
Source: NHS News Feed - Category: Consumer Health News Tags: Cancer Obesity Source Type: news