Obesity and Cancer Obesity is as a social and cultural trend is increasing at an alarming rate in the United States. Studies show that over half the adult population of our country is overweight or obese. What is even more disturbing is that many of these individuals are developing chronic and even terminal illnesses that are exacerbated by their excess weight.
Obesity Described by the Mayo Clinic as “having an excessive amount of body fat,” adult obesity is an epidemic that, in recent decades has begun to go pandemic. The health problems associated and complicated by obesity are varied and include respiratory problems, heart problems, diabetes, and cancer, all of which have the potential to be fatal. Even more problematic is the increase in childhood obesity. Being overweight or obese can lead to health problems regardless of your age. While a child’s body and immune system is more adept at handling disease and physical distress, it does have limits. Children who are obese are more likely to remain obese as adults and subsequently run a higher risk of developing obesity related health issues. As an individual’s weight increases, their risk for these diseases increases as well. Healthy diet and making choices to be active can significantly reduce your risk of developing any of these serious health problems. Eating well and exercising also works to help you live a longer, happier life without having to worry about disease.
Cancer One of the most pervasive diseases of our day, cancer in its various forms is responsible for over half a million deaths in 2012 while an estimated 1.6 million new cases were reported in the same year. Obesity has been linked to cancers of the esophagus, pancreas, colon, rectum, breast, endometrium, kidney, thyroid, and gallbladder and it is suspected of being related to several other forms of cancer as well. As stated previously, your risk of contracting cancer increases as your weight increases, but why? Fat cells produce a variety of hormones which are directly linked to causing cancer when present in high levels. Obesity can also lead to abnormal insulin levels and chronic inflammation, both of which have been linked to cancerous tumor growth in the body.
Weight Loss To decrease your risk of developing cancerous cells in your body, the obvious choice is to lose weight. By managing your diet and incrementally increasing your physical activities, you can significantly reduce your risk of cancer. For some, weight loss surgery can provide a regulated way to lose weight and keep it off. Your risk of developing cancer is dependent on a variety of factors including genetics, diet, and overall health. This means that you can keep yourself low-risk by staying healthy, active and within a normal weight range for your age, gender, and height. Cancer is a scary word and one that you never want to hear from the mouth of your physician. For anyone looking for weight loss surgery in Mexico, Obesity Free offers a variety of options to their clients that can help them reach and keep their weight loss goals.