Obesity and Cancer

Obesity and cancer.

“Epidemiological studies have suggested that obesity is associated with increased risk of several cancer types including colon, esophagus, breast (in postmenopausal women), endometrium, kidney, liver, gallbladder and pancreas.”

Exp Clin Endocrinol Diabetes. 2009 Nov;117(10):563-6.

Energy intake, physical activity and cancer

Energy intake, physical activity, energy balance, and cancer: epidemiologic evidence.

Obesity increases the risk of cancers of

  • colon and rectum
  • breast (in postmenopausal women)
  • endometrium (lining of the uterus)
  • kidney (renal cell)
  • esophagus (adenocarcinoma).

Obesity probably increases cancers of

  • pancreas
  • liver
  • gallbladder
  • aggressive prostate cancer.
Methods Mol Biol. 2009;472:191-215.

Vegetables May Prevent Endometrial Cancer

Higher intakes of vegetables and vegetable-related nutrients are associated with lower endometrial cancer risks.

The reduction was almost 50% for the highest compared to the lowest intake of total vegetables.

J Nutr. 2009 Feb;139(2):317-22. Epub 2008 Dec 11.

Diet and cancer chemoprevention

Dietary factors and cancer chemoprevention: an overview of obesity-related malignancies.

“Currently, obesity-related malignancies, e.g., cancers of the breast, prostate and colon are the leading cancers in the industrialized societies.”

This review looks at cancer prevention studies in selected cancers associated with obesity:

  • Prostate cancer
  • Breast cancer
  • Endometrial cancer
  • Kidney cancer
  • Esophageal adenocarcinoma
  • Colon cancer

And on foods that have anti-obesity and anti-cancer effects:

  • Garlic
  • Fenugreek
  • Green tea
  • Soy
  • Bitter melon
  • Plant defense molecules
  • Fish
Murthy NS, Mukherjee S, Ray G, Ray A.
J Postgrad Med. 2009 Jan-Mar;55(1):45-54. Review.