Cancer and Obesity

Dr Julie Sharp, of the charity Cancer Research UK, said less drastic measures, such as healthy eating and taking exercise, were the best way to control weight rather than weight-loss surgery.

"In the UK around 13,000 people a year could avoid cancer by maintaining a healthy body weight." -- Dr Julie Sharp, Cancer Research UK

That is a motivating reason to lose weight if you are obese. Here are some key points to know as reported by the American Cancer Institute.

1. 64 percent of U.S. adults are either overweight or obese. (1999-2000 National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey). Among children and teens ages 6 to 19, 15% (almost 9 million) are overweight. This study is almost 10 years old. Imagine what it is now?
   
   
2. What causes obesity?
   - Lack of physical activity. I sit at a computer most of the day. I must become more active. How about you?
   - High calories/high fat diet. I lost 19 pounds so far because I changed my diet. I cut out sugar and cut way down on carbohydrates that can turn into sugar in your system. That means no more apple pie or ice cream. At least not the way I use to eat it. Rather than deprive myself I now take a bite of my husband's dessert (he doesn't have a weight problem, lucky guy) when we eat out and it is enough now to satisfy me. I don't have desserts at home. Hubby has to buy his own if he wants any.
   
   
3. Relationship between obesity and cancer. Experts concluded that cancers of the colon, breast, endometrium, kidney, and esophagus are associated with obesity. There are links also with other cancers: gallbladder, ovaries, and pancreas.
   
   
4. Obesity and physical inactivity may account for 25 to 30 percent of several major cancers. Preventing weight gain can reduce the risk of many cancers.
   
   
5. How many people get cancer by being obese? 41,000 new cases of cancer in the U.S. were estimated to be caused by obesity. (2002 study) 14% of deaths from cancer in men and 20% of deaths in women were due to overweight and obesity.

You can read the full report on http://www.cancer.gov/cancertopics/factsheet/risk/obesity

We heard it before and we know that good health is established by healthy eating habits and good physical activity. Now if only we could practice that message and promise ourselves that we will take care of our bodies by Healthy Eating Forever and Lots of Physical Activity.