Excess body weight and obesity may play a role in a significant number of cancer deaths, according to a report from the American Cancer Society.
Results from the study, which involved close to 1 million people, indicated that 14 percent of cancer deaths in men and 20 percent of cancer deaths in women might be due to being overweight or obese.
Further, if Americans maintained healthy weights, more than 90,000 cancer deaths could be avoided each year, according to researchers.
Researchers followed more than 900,000 U.S. adults who were cancer-free in 1982 for a period of 16 years. Body weight was measured using body mass index (BMI) and deaths from cancer were noted.
Those who were overweight or obese had a higher risk of death from various cancers, including esophagus, colon and rectum, liver, gallbladder, pancreas, kidney, non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma and multiple myeloma, as compared to people of normal weight.
The higher the BMI, the greater the risk of cancer, researchers reported. Among the heaviest participants, the risk of death from cancer was 52 percent higher in men and 62 percent higher in women compared to people of normal weight.
The heaviest men were more likely to die from stomach or prostate cancer, while cancer of the breast, uterus, cervix or ovary was most likely to cause death among the heaviest women.
Researchers were uncertain exactly why obesity might increase risk of death from cancer but suggest that the higher levels of hormones common in people with higher BMIs may predispose them to cancer.
Additionally, excess weight in the abdomen may disrupt the metabolism of insulin, which can increase the risk of cancer, and people with obesity may be more likely to develop gallstones and reflux disease, which can lead to chronic inflammation and certain cancers.
Researchers note that, for people who are overweight or obese, losing any amount of weight could be useful in reducing risk of death from cancer.
The New England Journal of Medicine April 24, 2003;348:1625-1638
This is major news that hit most of the traditional media. However, it was no surprise to me as I have been emphasizing for many years that sugar, which in excess often leads to obesity, is one of the primary factors in cancer. If you have cancer you simply can’t eat sugar.
Dr. Warburg received the Nobel Prize over 70 years ago for finding out that cancer cells thrive on glucose. How long does it take before we get it?
However, as I explain in my book Total Health Program it is not just sugar that causes the problem but also grains. Grains break down very rapidly to sugar and trigger the same issues.
Grains and sugar are the primary reason why two-thirds of our country’s population is overweight or obese. Most of us would benefit by avoiding or seriously limiting our grain intake.
What really did surprise me was that this study was funded by Nutrasweet and Coca-Cola. I don’t understand the connection or what their reason for funding a study with this obvious conclusion. Would they use it to promote the use of Nutrasweet?
If they did they would be seriously incorrect as anything sweet is likely to cause similar problems. Just like Pavlov’s dogs salivated when he rang a bell that was associated with the steak, people will still release insulin when given something sweet like artificial sweeteners even though there are no calories. The sweetness itself will raise insulin levels just like sugar does.
If you find yourself tempted by fast-food and sweets when you don’t have time to prepare a meal, consider the completely nutritious, Whey Protein with Aminogen.
While whole foods are always best, if you are on the run or don’t have access to healthy food, Whey Protein with Aminogen is a smart choice. It also makes a great meal replacement for those trying to lose weight.
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