Obesity takes a huge toll on someone's health, and a new study found out that obese women have a 40% increased risk of developing cancer than thinner women, U.S. News and World Report said.
To make things worse, the list of obesity-related cancers isn't short. In fact, the data showed that obesity increases the risk for seven types of cancer including colon cancer, uterine cancer, post-menopausal breast cancer, gallbladder cancer, kidney cancer, esophageal cancer and pancreatic cancer.
Overall, the Cancer Research UK study found that out of 1,000 obese women, 274 will be diagnosed with cancer which is way higher than those women who have normal weight. In 1,000 women with normal weight, 194 would be expected to be diagnosed with cancer.
Also, the study found out that obese women have about one in four risk of developing weight-related cancer in their lifetime. Obesity may lead to cancer due to the fat cell's production of hormones especially estrogen. Estrogen can fuel cancer development.
Fortunately, there are ways for women to reduce the risk and one way is by trimming their waistline.
"Lifestyle changes -- like not smoking, keeping a healthy weight, eating a healthy diet and cutting back on alcohol -- are the big opportunities for us all to personally reduce our cancer risk," Dr. Julie Sharp, head of health information at Cancer Research UK, said in a news release from the organization.
She added, "Making these changes is not a guarantee against cancer, but it stacks the odds in our favor." She reiterated that losing weight is not about going to the gym or giving up a favorite food. Small changes in one's lifestyle can alter body weight, and will have a huge impact on the body in the long run.
She defined small changes as, "Try getting off the bus a stop earlier and cutting down on fatty and sugary foods. Losing weight takes time, so gradually build on these to achieve a healthier lifestyle that you can maintain. And find out about local services, which can provide help and support to make lifestyle changes over the long term," she recommended.
In an Obesity.org report, around 36.5% of women in the United States were obese. "We know that our cancer risk depends on a combination of our genes, our environment and other aspects of our lives, many of which we can control," Sharp said.