A high BMI increases the risk of getting cancer
A high BMI (Body Mass Index) would increase the risk of contracting one of the 10 most common cancers . The study, particularly interesting, was carried out among 5 million people in the United Kingdom.
According to scientists, 12,000 cases of cancer each year are attributed to obesity (in the UK). If the BMI of the population continues to climb, as it is currently, then 3790 new cases could be added each year. Figures that challenge.
Significant impacts on 10 different cancers
This is the largest study ever to link the effects of BMI with cancer. Of 22 cancers studied (which represent 90% of cancers), 17 had a direct link with the corpulence of the patients. Among these 17, there are 10 cancers (listed below) that have very strong correlations with the corpulence of individuals.
Each time the BMI ( which you can calculate here ) gains 5 kg/m², the increased risk of contracting one of these cancers is as follows:
- 62% for uterine cancer
- 31% for gallbladder cancer
- 25% for kidney cancer
- 19% for liver cancer
- 10% for colon cancer
- 10% for the cervix
- 9% for ovarian cancer
- 9% for thyroid cancer
- 9% for leukemia
- 5% for breast cancer
The study was published in the scientific journal The Lancet (1) by scientists from the London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine. It was done over a period of 7 years in total.
The study specifies that even in the normal bracket of the BMI (ie between 20 and 25), there may be higher risks when the subjects are at the top of this bracket. Details that echo our file on the meaning of BMI slices . Indeed, from 20 kg/m², the risk of disease increases in a very general way. From 28 kg/m² the mortality rate increases in everyone (1) .
Paradoxically to this discovery, it is important to note that with regard to cancer of the prostate as well as that of the breast, the subjects whose BMI was high were a priori less at risk than the subjects with a low BMI.
Dr Krishnan Bhaskaran , leader of the study, said that “ The number of people who are overweight or obese is increasing rapidly both in the UK and globally. It is well recognized that this is likely to cause more diabetes and cardiovascular disease. Our results show that if these trends continue, we can also expect to see many more cancers as a result .”
Stephen Paul is the lead author and founder of My Health Sponsor. Holder of a diploma in health and well-being coaching with more than 200 articles in the field of health, he makes it a point of honor to offer advice based on reliable information, based on scientific research, and verified by health professionals.