Body Fat Linked to Six Cancers - KCBD NewsChannel 11 Lubbock

10/31/07

Body Fat Linked to Six Cancers

A landmark study, released Wednesday, indicates that cancer may be linked to diet and weight more than anyone realized.

More specifically, body fat is now strongly linked to six cancers. According to a more than 500 page report from an international task force on obesity, that actually leaves us with good news.

"Because body fat has come through remarkably as fundamentally linked to several cancers, then in fact if you reverse that and get slimmer, you in fact drop your cancer rate. Quite amazing," says Dr. Philip James, Chairman of the International Obesity Task Force.

The report is a study of 7,000 studies from around the world. In it, researchers found that even small amounts of excess body fat, especially at the waist, increase risk of colon, prostate and breast cancer.

The report emphasizes the need for regular exercise, even if it's just walking every day.

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