
Obesity has been pinpointed as one of the factors that could contribute to cancer.
According to statistics, two thirds of the population in North America are considered to be overweight or obese. Determined by the BMI (Body Mass Index), individuals considered to be overweight have a BMI of 25.0–29.9, while those considered to be obese are over 30.0. Obesity is perceived as a medical condition, in which the body has an amount of fat that is excessive to the point that is could adversely affect health. The National Cancer Institute blames a sedentary lifestyle and over consumption of high caloric foods to be the major causes.
The statistics for women over 50 are worse; a whopping 80% fall into those two categories.
Cancer and Obesity
A number of health issues are related to obesity, and one of the most serious is cancer. Research has shown that obesity (coupled with a sedentary lifestyle) can make some cancers, such as colon, breast, uterine, esophagus and kidney, more likely. It can also increase the risk of developing endometrial cancer. In fact, obesity makes a woman 2 to 4 times more likely to develop the disease, compared to a woman within the normal range.

For postmenopausal women, the distribution of fat after menopause tends to concentrate in the upper body, namely the abdominal area. “Belly fat”, an overall excess of body fat and increased estrogen levels (produced in fatty tissue rather than the ovaries) are a fatal combination in women at this age. This has been linked to the development of breast cancer and the rapid growth of tumors. Detection may also be more difficult in obese women compared to those within the normal weight range.
The Importance of Eating Healthy and Physical Exercise
Exercise and eating a healthy low calorie diet are the key to reducing the risk of the aforementioned types of cancer. Although at present, insufficient research has been conducted to determine whether a suitable exercise regimen reduces the risk of developing cancer, many informal studies have shown favourable results.
And there’s no need to lose a lot of weight to experience the benefits – as little as 5-10% of your overall weight can help. Don’t wait until it’s too late. Contact Personal Trainer Toronto to start shedding those pounds!


