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How Obesity Fuels Cancer Risk: The Hidden Links You Should Know

Obesity is more than a weight issue—it’s a major cancer risk factor. Scientific research confirms that excess body fat influences hormonal, inflammatory, and immune processes that can trigger cancer. Here’s how:

Key Mechanisms Linking Obesity to Cancer:

Estrogen Overload: Fat cells produce extra estrogen, especially after menopause, increasing the risk for breast, ovarian, and endometrial cancers.

Insulin and IGF-1 Elevation: Obesity leads to insulin resistance and higher levels of insulin and insulin-like growth factor 1 (IGF-1). These stimulate abnormal cell growth, increasing the risk of colorectal, prostate, kidney, and endometrial cancers.

Chronic Inflammation: Fat tissue generates low-grade inflammation, damaging DNA and encouraging tumor formation—particularly in liver and biliary tract cancers.

Adipokine Imbalance: Obesity alters fat-derived hormones like leptin (which promotes cancer cell growth) and reduces adiponectin (which usually protects against cancer).

Weakened Immunity: Obesity impairs the body’s immune surveillance, letting cancer cells escape detection and grow unchecked.

Oxidative Stress: Excess fat increases oxidative stress, harming DNA and paving the way for cancer development.


🚨 At Least 13 Cancers Are Linked to Obesity, including:

1. Breast cancer (especially after menopause)

2. Colorectal (colon and rectal) cancer

3. Endometrial (uterine) cancer

4. Esophageal adenocarcinoma

5. Kidney cancer

6. Liver cancer

7. Gallbladder cancer

8. Pancreatic cancer

9. Ovarian cancer

10. Thyroid cancer

11. Stomach cancer

12. Multiple myeloma

13. Meningioma

The longer a person is overweight, and the greater the body fat, the higher the cancer risk.

Sources:

National Cancer Institute (NCI): Obesity and Cancer.

WHO: Cancer: Risk Factors.

American Cancer Society: Body Weight and Cancer Risk.

Visit www.wecare4all.in to book your appointment with our Obesity specialist and get rid of weight. Reduce your weight and lead a healthy long life.

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Location: Kanchi Colony, K 31 & 15, S Boag Rd, Anna Colony, T. Nagar, Chennai, Tamil Nadu 600017, India

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