The relationship between obesity and the onset ofCancer
Cancers related to obesity and poor diet are linked to various factors. Besides obesity, other factors can also contribute to cancer development. Generally, poor nutrition and obesity increase numerous risk factors that raise the likelihood of certain cancer types, including breast, uterus, lung, kidney, and colon cancer.
Eating foods low in nutrients that are high in fat and calories, without consuming healthy food options like fruits and vegetables, can lead to obesity and ultimately increase the risk of cancer. Additionally, obesity can affect hormone activity and chemicals in the body and trigger inflammatory processes that ultimately lead to the growth of abnormal cells and cancer.
In fact, research shows that about 9% of all cancer cases can be directly linked to obesity. Fortunately, by maintaining a healthy weight and reducing the chances of obesity, the risk of related diseases can be significantly decreased. But the question is, which types of cancer are associated with obesity that pose a threat? Join us in this health sectionSelMagzto learn about cancers associated with obesity.
Stomach Cancer
Excess body fat can lead to chronic inflammation, especially in the digestive tract. Given the connection between obesity andesophageal cancer(part of the digestive system), it is not surprising that there is a link between stomach cancer and obesity. Chronic inflammation, which can be triggered by obesity, may lead to increased burning from stomach acid, which can eventually result in stomach cancer.
Liver Cancer
Obesity can cause changes in the liver similar to the effects of alcohol consumption. Obesity increases the risk ofgallbladder stonesand having gallstones raises the risk of gallbladder cancer. In this scenario, we face a mechanism similar to liver cirrhosis, which can lead to cancer!
But it’s not drinking alcohol that causes harm; rather, obesity itself changes liver fat, leading to a condition callednon-alcoholic fatty liver disease.Gallbladder Cancer
Obesity increases the risk of gallstones. Gallstones are cholesterol-rich deposits that can cause inflammation of the gallbladder, and having gallstones seems to raise the risk of gallbladder cancer.
Pancreatic Cancer
We know that obesity can weaken insulin production. Disruption of normal metabolic processes caused by the pancreas may raise the risk of
pancreatic cancer.Ovarian CancerFat cells produce estrogen, and it appears that excess estrogen is a major culprit behind breast and uterine cancer in overweight women. Ovarian cancer seems to develop in a similar way due to increased hormone levels and inflammation caused by obesity.
Meningioma
Many tumors that grow from the meninges (the thin tissue covering the brain and spinal cord) are actually non-cancerous.
With
weight gain
, the thyroid also increases in size. Enlargedthyroidincreases the chances of gene mutations and can lead to cancer.Little information is available about what causes these tumors and what makes them cancerous, but the extra hormones produced by fat cells likely play a role.Thyroid Cancer
Again, excess (or insufficient) hormone production is highlighted here. However, with weight gain, the thyroid also enlarges. An enlarged thyroid raises the chances of gene mutations and cancer development.
Multiple Myeloma
Chronic inflammation also plays a role here. Obesity likely stimulates the inflammatory process, leading to increased changes in bone marrow cells and multiple myeloma.
Cancer
Cancers associated with obesity
