Body Fat is Linked to Six Types of Cancer

We've all been told, "too much of anything is bad for you." The same is true of body fat. This Los Angeles Times article documents the work of the American Institute for Cancer Research's findings that relate body fat to cancer. It is known that excess body fat affects the levels of hormones and cell growth factors. Additionally, excess body fat is characterized by a low-grade chronic inflammatory state where the fat is localized, thus promoting or encouraging the growth of cancer. The report, found at www.dietandcancerreport.org, provides evidence connecting the growth of excess body fat to cancers of the esophagus, pancreas, kidneys and endometrium, colon and rectum, breasts of post-menopausal women.

Various recommendations are made as to how improving dietary, physical, and behavioral aspects of one's life will reduce body fat. Interestingly for steak-eaters, "Once an individual reaches the 18-ounce weekly limit for red meat, every additional 1.7 ounces consumed a day increases cancer risk by 15%." Therefore, too much of anything is bad for you.

http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/nation/la-na-cancer31oct31,0,4739640.story?coll=la-home-center