Weight loss lowers cancer risk. Yes you can lower your cancer risk by losing weight. Forty-five percent of men and 38% of women will get cancer. But, many of these cancers are preventable as 25% of cancers are related to lifestyle factors such as being sedentary and overweight. According to the American Cancer Society 1,900,000 new cases of cancer will be diagnosed in 2022 and 609,360 individuals will die from cancer this year making cancer the second leading cause of death (heart disease is number one).
The good news is there are steps you can take to reduce your risk of getting cancer. In “Exercise and Cancer” we discussed the important role of physical activity as a way lower the risk of cancer, but losing weight also improves the odds that you will avoid cancer.
Cancer Risk Related to Overweight
Some cancers are more strongly related to body weight than others and include:
- Post-menopausal breast cancer
- Endometrial cancer
- Colon cancer
Cancer Risk Inflammation Markers
Several inflammation markers that can readily be measured in the blood are linked to cancer. These markers include C-reactive protein (CRP), interleukin-6 (IL-6), and tumor necrosis factor (TNF). A study on 439 women who exercised and lost weight reported a reduction in CRP of 42% and 23% drop in IL-6 levels. These reductions in inflammation marker associated with exercise and weight loss are greater than those seen with anti-inflammatory medicine.
Excessive body fat is also inflammatory so losing any weight is helpful in reducing the inflammatory load in the body. This particular study showed that exercise alone did not reduce inflammation, though some previous studies have shown a reduction in inflammation related to exercise.
Being overweight many times is associated insulin resistance and higher insulin levels. Insulin promotes inflammation and cancer cell growth. Losing weight and exercise can improve insulin resistance.
How to Lose Weight
We have several articles on weight loss and exercise on this site that you can read. But, in a nutshell do the following:
- Focus on a low-glycemic nutrition plan.
- Exercise regularly – at least 5 days a week.
- Perform aerobics, strength training, and high intensity interval training. Be cleared by a physician first if you are at risk for heart disease.
- Strive for optimal sex hormone and thyroid levels. The importance of balanced hormones is frequently overlooked.
Life is about tipping the odds in your favor. When it comes to cancer there are action steps you can take to lower your cancer risk. Are you going to take those steps, or simply be content to be another number in the cancer statistics?
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