Is obesity to blame for rising cancer cases in younger generation?
The fact that certain cancers are more likely to strike younger generations is alarming. The study, which was published in the Journal of Internal Medicine, found that among 313,321 persons with obesity and overweight diagnoses, there were 20,706 malignancies as opposed to the 18,480 cancers that were predicted based on data from the general population.
This corresponds to a 13% increased risk linked to being overweight or obese.
The link between obesity and cancer is already well-established. Obesity rates are accelerating in young people. Extra body fat undoubtedly reduces the immune system of the body, and functioning of the hormones and cells which further results in abnormal number of cells and can increase the risk of tumour formation. Obesity among young adults is also driving up the rates of cancer, including colorectal cancer, pancreatic cancer, to some extent for kidney cancer, gallbladder cancer, uterine cancer and multiple myeloma. These cancers are often not discovered in younger people until the disease is advanced, when it’s harder to treat.
How does obesity lead to cancer?
Fat doesn’t just sit around; it’s an active tissue. It may stop working properly, which leads to inflammation and raises the risk of cancer. Numerous malignancies connected to obesity are seen in organs with fat pads around them.
Furthermore, too much fat can affect the entire body. For example, blood levels of insulin and oestrogen are frequently changed in individuals with malfunctioning fat tissue. These alterations may harm DNA and cause a number of malignancies.
Are women more prone to obesity related cancer than men?
Blood insulin levels are greater in overweight women, and this has been connected to a number of malignancies, including breast cancer.
The relationship between breast cancer risk and weight is complicated. As opposed to women who have been overweight since childhood, the danger seems to be higher for those who gained weight as adults. It also relies on the region where fat is deposited. Compared to the same amount of fat in the hips and thighs, excess waist fat may provide a greater risk.
What about people who are not obese?
People who are not obese need to be careful, too. Having too much fat even if you have a normal body weight or BMI (body mass index) can increase the risk of developing cancer and heart disease.
Lifestyle management is the key to beat obesity related cancer
Dr. Manish Sharma stated “it is essential that we consider certain foods and high-sugar beverages similarly to how we consider tobacco: as unhealthy, redundant and dangerous.
The only conclusive method to determine whether decreasing weight or not gaining it will lower the risk of cancer is to conduct a controlled clinical trial. The majority of the evidence for whether weight loss or avoidance of weight gain protects cancer comes from group case studies, however healthy eating, staying within a healthy weight range, exercising, and abstaining from smoking can all significantly lower the risk of cancer”. Additionally, observe these easy measures to prevent obesity:
- Go for Balanced diet
- Get creative with exercise. Pick out interesting ways to move your body
- Eat three meals everyday breakfast, lunch and dinner
- Eat 5 servings of fruits and vegetables in a day
- Limit the fat, sugar and salt in your diet. Consult your GP for that
- Quit smoking and drinking
- Go for brisk walking twice in a day for 30 minutes
Please go by following tips to combat cancer by changing your diet and exercise rules:
- Target Plant based diets.
- Consume omega-3
- Eat more and more yogurt.
- Reduce meat consumption
- Stay hydrated;
- Wash your veggies and fruits in a different manner by using vinegar and salt.
- Try cancer fighting foods ginger, garlic, onion, turmeric, coriander, leafy green veggies, berries, oranges, oily fish, sunflower seeds, pumpkin seeds, mushrooms, beetroot and pulses as they all have cancer fighting properties. By consuming cancer fighting foods it can help support the entire body and mind in the healing process that can sometimes be long and very difficult.
- Include some supplements in your routine like folic acid which helps in reducing the risk of breast cancer; Folic acid (with B12) can help prevent cancer of the colon; Vitamin D reduces risk of prostate, colorectal and other forms of cancer etc.
