Excess weight is always a health issue. What impact does weight have on women? A new research has found that lifelong excess weight almost doubles a woman’s risk of developing womb cancer.
The researchers from the University of Bristol found that a woman’s risk of womb (endometrial) cancer is almost doubled (increase of 88%) for every five extra BMI units. This is higher than most previous studies have suggested and reflects lifelong weight status rather than a snapshot in time unlike most other studies
The 5 BMI units is the difference between the overweight category and the obese category or of a 5’5 adult woman being two stones heavier.
METHOD
In the study the researchers looked at genetic samples from around 1.2 lakh women from Belgium, Australia, Germany, Poland, Sweden, the USA and the UK of which around 13,000 had womb cancer. This large statistical analysis is one of the first studies of its kind to look at the effect of lifelong greater BMI on womb cancer risk.
The researchers looked at markers of 14 traits, which could link obesity and womb cancer. They uncovered two hormones – fasting insulin and testosterone – which increased the risk of being diagnosed with womb cancer. By pinpointing exactly how obesity increases the risk of cancer, such as through hormones, scientists in the future could use drugs to reduce or increase the level of these hormones in people already at a higher risk of Cancer. For example, drugs like metformin used in diabetes treatment can reduce the levels of hormones and research suggests this drug also affects cancer risk.
WOMB CANCER
This cancer is most closely linked with obesity. It is the most common gynaecological cancer in high income countries and is the fourth most common cancer for women in the UK. The researchers stated that one in 36 women will be diagnosed in their lifetime.
Lead author Emma Hazelwood said that the study was a first step into how genetic analyses could be used to uncover exactly how obesity causes cancer.
“We look forward to further research exploring how we can now use this information to help reduce the risk of cancer in people struggling with obesity, Hazelwood said.
