WARNING ABOUT OBESITY & STOMACH CANCER

It’s no secret that carrying extra weight increases cancer risk. But a new study published in the British Journal of Cancer sounds a new alarm on just how big a risk it poses for cancer of the esophagus or the upper stomach.

The study, conducted by the National Cancer Institute, aggregated data from more than 400,000 people over multiple decades. The data revealed that people who were identified as overweight (BMI 26-29.9) in their 20s and subsequently developed obesity (BMI 30 or higher) later in life were 60-80% more likely to develop esophageal or upper stomach cancer.

The alarming results of the study reinforce the insidious nature of weight gain. Because it typically happens over a long period of time, people are less likely to take action to counter its effects. But the gradual increase in weight typically turns into a more serious chronic condition, which in turn raises cancer risk. For example, as a precursor to esophageal or stomach cancer, many people suffer from long-term acid reflux or GERD(Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease).

So if you fit the profile of a person included in this study, does that mean you are destined to develop stomach cancer? We can’t answer with absolute certainty what anyone’s future may hold, but we can say that there is always something you can do to try to lower your risk of developing disease. And in our experience, that something is losing weight.

If you have ever visited a provider in the CMWL network for an initial weight screening, you received a report showing how your specific Body Mass Index (BMI) relates to your risk of developing certain types of cancer. If you haven’t received this report, we strongly urge you to make an appointment with your local center soon to discuss your results and develop a plan on how to reduce your health risks. Don’t let one more day go by without having taken the steps to live your healthiest life.