The relationship between cancer and obesity
Some people do not realize the close relationship between obesity and the risk of developing cancer. Cancer is one of the serious complications of obesity that we must pay attention to as much as the other complications. We will discuss in this article some important information that we hope will be useful for you.
How can excessive obesity lead to cancer?
- Fat cells secrete adipokines which cause growth dysfunction and cell proliferation, increasing the number of cells abnormally and forming tumors and lumps.
- The fat cells also affect other types of cell growth regulators, such as the mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) and the active protein kinase (AMP); directly or indirectly, causing malignant cell growth.
- Fat accumulation leads to a state of continuous inflammation in the body, which, over time, causes damage to the DNA of healthy cells and thus cancer.
- Fat cells in the human body produce estrogen. In the case of fat accumulation, the estrogen hormone increases, causing cancer.
- Insulin resistance (which precedes type 2 diabetes) as a result of excess weight may lead to cancer as well.
- Obesity increases the presence of oxidative factors in the body, exposing the patient to the risk of developing cancer.
- The accumulated fat cells weaken the immune system, exposing the body to cancer.
Are there certain types of cancer caused by obesity?
Yes, there are certain cancer types that can be caused by obesity, including:
1- Breast cancer: Especially in post-menopausal women, who use hormonal replacement medication to reduce the disturbing menopausal symptoms. The risk of developing cancer also increases in obese women who use hormone-based contraceptives.
2- Esophageal cancer: It may occur due to continuous inflammation, in addition to frequent GERD, due to the stomach expansion caused by excessive food intake.
3- Colon Cancer: Colon cancer occurs in obese patients as a result of their suffering from fat accumulation in the abdomen or waist area. Also, large amounts of adipokines stimulate abnormal growth of cells, leading to colon cancer.
4- Gallbladder cancer: This type of cancer occurs due to the continuous formation of gallstones due to obesity and ingestion of unhealthy diets.
5- Endometrial cancer: The risk of endometrial cancer increases in obese women who become at a risk of 2-4 times more than other women.
6- Brain cancer: Obese patients are 20% more likely to develop brain cancer. It may begin in the surrounding membrane till reaching the spinal cord.
7- Ovarian cancer: For a woman's body mass index (BMI) five points higher than normal, her risk of developing ovarian cancer increased by 10%.
8- Stomach cancer: This type of cancer usually affects obese patients in the upper part of the stomach.
9- Renal cancer: Obese patients are twice more likely to develop renal cancer than their relatives of the appropriate weight.
10- Pancreatic cancer: Obese patients are one and half times more likely to develop pancreatic cancer than people of an appropriate weight.
11- Thyroid cancer: Similar to ovarian cancer, the higher a patient's body mass index (BMI) five points above normal, the higher the chance of developing thyroid cancer by 10%.
12- Liver Cancer: This type is more common in obese men than women.
13- Multiple myeloma: It may occur 10-20% more for obese patients than for people of a healthy weight.
According to studies and statistics conducted in 2013, there was evidence between eliminating obesity and reducing cancer incidence. Patients who performed bariatric surgery to lose excess weight are now more safe from the risk of developing cancer than their obese relatives who did not perform bariatric surgery.
