Body Fat Levels Closely Associated With Cancer Risk

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Main Category: Cancer / Oncology
Also Included In: Obesity / Weight Loss / Fitness;  Nutrition / Diet;  Sports Medicine / Fitness
Article Date: 03 Nov 2007 - 13:00 PDT

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If you weigh nearer the lighter end of your ideal weight range your risk of developing cancer is lower than if you weighed more, according to a new report published by the World Cancer Research Fund (WCRF). According to the WCRF, it is the most comprehensive report ever published which links weight, diet, physical activity and cancer risk.

The researchers searched through the databases of nine academic institutions worldwide, found half a million studies that took place since the 1960s, and selected the 7,000 most relevant ones.

The report, which included contributions from 21 of the world's most renowned scientists, includes 10 key recommendations. The WCRF says that the report contains the most authoritative advice that has ever been available - advice aimed at helping people reduce their risks of developing cancer. The World Health Organization and UNICEF were among the official observers while the report was underway.

Keep Your Weight Down

One of the key recommendations is to keep your Body Mass Index (BMI) to within the 20-25 range if you want to minimize your cancer risk. The higher your levels of body fat the higher your chances are of developing cancers, especially colorectal cancer, post-menopausal breast cancer, and four others.

Panel Chair, Prof Sir Michael Marmot, said "We are recommending that people aim to be as lean as possible within the healthy range, and that they avoid weight gain throughout adulthood. This might sound difficult, but this is what the science is telling us more clearly than ever before. The fact is that putting on weight can increase your cancer risk, even if you are still within the healthy range. So the best advice for cancer prevention is to avoid weight gain, and if you are already overweight then you should aim to lose weight."

The report also found that׃

-- The consumption of processed meats raises the risk of developing colorectal cancer. The panel advises people to consume processed meats "sparingly". Processed meats include bacon and ham.

-- There is compelling evidence that red meat, if more than 500grammes are consumed per week, raise the risk of developing colorectal cancer.

-- Breastfeeding exclusively during the first six months protects the mother from breast cancer, as well as protecting the baby from obesity later on.

-- Dietary supplements should not be used for cancer prevention.

-- Evidence is becoming much more compelling that alcohol consumption rates are linked to risk of cancer rates

Professor Martin Wiseman, Report Project Director, said "This report is a real milestone in the fight against cancer, because its recommendations represent the most definitive advice on preventing cancer that has ever been available anywhere in the world. When individual studies are published, it is impossible for the public to put them into context and know how seriously they should be taking the findings. But the great thing about this report is that it does this job for them. If people follow our recommendations, they can be confident they are following the best advice possible based on all the scientific research done up to this point. These recommendations are not based on one study but are based on 7,000."

Deputy Chief Medical Officer, Dr Fiona Adshead, in charge of delivering on the UK Government's obesity target, said "We will examine the findings and detail of this comprehensive and useful report. We have already made progress in tackling obesity with improved physical activity levels at school, healthier school food for children, clearer food labelling and tougher restrictions on advertising foods high in fat and sugar to children - but we know that we need to go further and faster. We want to see the positive work by the food industry continued with more and more retailers and manufacturers adopting the traffic light model to make it easier for people to make the right food choices. We are encouraging the most sedentary people to get more active through pedometer schemes and some physical activity pilots based in GP surgeries. There is no single solution to tackle obesity and it cannot be tackled by Government action alone. We will only succeed if the problem is recognized, owned and addressed at every level and every part of society. With new resources from the CSR we are planning a long-term drive for action on obesity. There is high-level cross-government commitment to tackling obesity, and we will provide the leadership, vision and sustained commitment required to help start this cultural and societal shift."

Professor Mike Richards, UK Government's Clinical Director for Cancer, said "The WCRF report is the most authoritative and exhaustive review done thus far on the prevention of cancer through food, nutrition and physical activity. For those of us wanting to lower our risk of developing cancer, the Report provides practical lifestyle recommendations. The Report also provides public health goals. Both will form an important element for the forthcoming Cancer Reform Strategy."

-- World Cancer Research Fund
-- More information about the Report, plus the report itself

Written by׃ Christian Nordqvist
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