Half a million new cancers diagnosed each year around the world are believed to be due to overweight or obesity. This is what the International Agency for Research on Cancer (Circ) says in a study published in the medical journal The Lancet Oncology.
According to the researchers, a body mass index (BMI) greater than 25, doubles the risk of having cancer in women, especially in rich countries where 8% of new cancers are due to being overweight in women, against ” only “3% in men.
Cancers of the endometrium (uterine lining), colon, and breast post menopause accounts for nearly three-quarters (73%) of all annual new cancer cases linked to obesity in women. While in men, kidney and colon cancers account for two-thirds (66%).
One in four cancers could be prevented
This study, led by Dr Melina Arnold of IARC, suggests that one in four cancers linked to obesity could have been avoided if we had kept the average body mass index of 1982. Remember that being overweight corresponds to a BMI 25 or over and obesity at a BMI of 30 or over.
Rich countries are the most affected with nearly two-thirds (64%) of new cases of cancer associated with obesity recorded in North America (or 111,000 cases) and Europe. Within Europe, the east of the continent is particularly affected, with 65,000 cancers.
According to Christopher Wild, director of IARC: “The number of cancers linked to obesity and overweight is predicted to continue to increase globally with economic development. This underscores the importance of putting in place effective weight control measures to prevent developing countries from experiencing in turn the health problems encountered by rich countries “.
