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SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 22, 2009
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Obesity Growing as Cancer Risk for Women

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(AP) – Being fat could become the leading cause of cancer in women in Western countries in the coming years, say European researchers. Being overweight or obese accounts for up to 8% of cancers in Europe. That figure is poised to increase substantially as the obesity epidemic continues, and as major causes of cancer, such as smoking, drop. Colorectal cancer, breast cancer in menopausal women, and endometrial cancer accounted for 65% of all cancers linked to being fat.

"Obesity is catching up at a rate that makes it possible it could become the biggest attributable cause of cancer in women within the next decade," a researcher says. Between 2002 and 2008, he says, the number of such cases almost doubled to 124,000. Scientists aren't sure why being fat boosts your cancer risk but suspect hormones play a role. As people become fatter, they produce more hormones such as estrogen that help tumors grow.

Excess weight is causing more cancers, researchers say.
Excess weight is causing more cancers, researchers say.   (Shutter Stock)
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We need to find the biological mechanism to help people find other ways of tackling obesity. Just telling the population to lose weight obviously hasn't worked. - Andrew Renehan, University of Manchester

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7 comments
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Gooner82
Sep 24, 09 1:06 PM CDT
Gross. Does this really surprise anyone though? Hopefully none of these people are complaining about healthcare... Reply
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Thinker
Sep 24, 09 1:36 PM CDT
What a stupid comment. If these people, probably mostly poor, had access to inexpensive health care, they would be able to access preventative care and, maybe, prevent the issues that cause them to be obese. Diabetes, thyroid problems, kidney problems and ovarian cysts can all contribute to obesity.
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radnip
Sep 24, 09 2:57 PM CDT
Yeah, before the middle class rose, the peasants wouldn't have the gall to complain about healthcare. The temerity of the so-called new middle class. Don't they know only the upper classes become doctors and can get in to see those doctors? Just as it should be.
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Gooner82
Sep 24, 09 1:48 PM CDT
Just for the record, I am all for healthcare reform and providing affordable care to the poor. I hope these people aren't complaining about reforming healthcare, since their irresponsible lifesyles contribute to rising costs. Also, I don't want to hear about how much it costs to eat well. Go buy a can of tuna and a head of lettuce and some produce. You might not like it as much as McDonalds, but it's just as affordable. Suggesting most people are obese because of diabetes and thyroid problems is a stupid comment. Reply
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Gallavant
Sep 24, 09 2:14 PM CDT
Agreed Gooner -- most people live sedentary lifestyles and consume monster amounts of calories. They are too busy and stressed out and sleep-deprived. Average portions are getting bigger and bigger. If you look, you can find a DRINK that puts you over the limit for the day. It's a tough environment for people to stay healthy in if they're not consciously taking care of themselves. It's something we can work on as a nation, I suppose. Reply
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