Obese women are at greater risk of developing breast cancer. Overweight women with high blood sugar and fat levels have more chance of developing breast cancer and have worst prognosis. Doctors conducted research study on 1,000 obese women. Of these, 561 women were diagnosed with Breast Cancer. This research study was conducted by Umea University scientists and published in the “Journal Breast Cancer Research and Treatment”. Death rate is also high in women (both pre and post-menopausal) who are diagnosed with advanced breast cancer. High blood sugar levels in obese women are the major culprit for rise in breast cancer risk. In the research, obese and overweight women have shown lower survival rates than normal weight women. Inflammatory breast cancer (aggressive form) incidence is more in overweight women when compared to normal females. Severity of the breast cancer rises with increase in weight. Breast cancer recurrence is also high in obese women. Obesity is the side-effect of Tamoxifen, common breast cancer drug. Doctors need to tackle this problem. Obesity also increases risk of getting other cancers like Leukaemia, Multiple Myeloma, Thyroid Cancer, Kidney tumours and Colon Cancer. Obesity is the major culprit for increase in incidence of Diabetes, Hypertension and heart diseases. More than 60% of women over 60 years are either obese or weight in America. Why should we reduce weight? 1. To decrease risk of getting cancer. 2. To increase survival rate. 3. To reduce chance of recurrence. Disciplined diet and regular exercise help in reducing obesity levels in the population. … [Read more...]
Obesity increases esophageal cancer link
Obese people six times more likely to get gullet cancer than normal weight people, according to a study published in the British journal “Gut”. Obesity and gastric acid reflux are major risk factors for developing esophageal cancer. Combination of both factors will increase gullet cancer risk by 16 times. Highly obese people with body mass index (BMI) of 40 or more are at very high risk of developing gullet cancer than people with a BMI of between 18.5 and 25. Obesity is the second most cause of cancer while smoking is the most common cancer cause. Obesity is also responsible for diabetes and heart diseases. United States of America is the number one country in obesity. How does Obesity raise cancer risk? 1. Obesity increases insulin level in the body which raises production of insulin-like growth factor. 2. Both hormones stimulate cell proliferation and inhibit apoptosis (cell destruction). 3. Above 2 causes are triggers for cancer development. Obesity is already reaching epidemic proportions even in children due to junk food eating habits and lack of exercise. Obesity “time bomb” will explode at any time. … [Read more...]
How to control Obesity epidemic?
Obesity is gradually attaining epidemic proportions not only in developed countries but also in developing countries. People are getting obese cutting across country, class, economical status and region. Lack of physical exercise, junk food habits, lack of awareness and advertisements are fuelling the growth of obesity. Surprisingly, obesity is rapidly growing in low to middle income families due to use of cheap junk foods. Obesity causes more than 50 diseases of which Diabetes, heart disease and stroke are major ones. It is very difficult to control blood sugar and blood pressure in obese patients. They gradually develop metabolic syndrome and insulin resistance if they failed to control their weight. How to control Obesity? 1. Exercise for 30-45 minutes is best. Brisk walking is ideal and simple exercise to control one’s weight. 2. Eating diet rich in vegetables and fruits is good. 3. Stay away from fast foods which are rich in unsaturated fatty acids. 4. Never skip breakfast. 5. Stay away from soft drinks and other high calorie diet. 6. Encourage children to play physical games than computer games. 7. Schools should not allow the vendors to sell soft drinks and fast foods in their campuses. 8. Parents should control TV watching habits of children. 9. Governments should levy higher taxes on junk foods and high calorie drinks. Controlling weight is in our hands. We just need determination to control this epidemic. … [Read more...]
Obesity Research: Cold virus may cause Obesity
A common virus, causing cold can be a factor causing obesity, according to a study conducted at the Pennington Biomedical Research centre at Louisiana State University in Baton Rouge. The researcher further says that “virus is not the only cause of obesity but this study provides stronger evidence that some obesity cases may involve viral infections.’’ The adenovirus-36 (AD36) has already been implicated at the cause of weighting gain in animals, and with this study also, researchers showed for the first time that it can also cause humans to pile on the pounds (kilograms). These findings could accelerate the development of a vaccine or an anti viral medication to help fight the battle of the bulge, alongside the diet and exercise which the other factors are causing obesity. A previous study showed that 33.3% of the obese people are infected with the virus, compared to their linear counter parts who are 10% affected. In laboratory experiments, it is found that the bug appeared to promote the formation of fat cells from stem cells. The team took adult stem cells from fatty tissue left over from patients who had undergone liposuction (a procedure to remove fat from the body), and exposed some of it to AD-36, leaving the remaining cells untreated. They are allowed to grow in a tissue culture for a week of time, most of the virus-infected adult stem cells developed into fat cells, (where as the untreated cells did not develop in fatty cells). The researchers further says , “it is not clear what drives the transformation, how long the virus lingers in the human system or whether its fat-enhancing effect continues after the body has cleared the virus.” As the research is going on, the real mechanism will be revealed in the near future. As usual we should always keep in mind the other factors that cause obesity like, Lack of exercise, Excess food intake, Depression (sometimes the patient takes extra food to combat depression), etc. If it is true, it may be difficult to control Obesity. Obesity is a major factor in causing Type2 Diabetes, Coronary Heart disease and other lifestyle related chronic diseases. … [Read more...]
Obesity: Statistics, causes and diseases
Obesity and overweight together constitute as one of the top 10 global health problems as per the recent surveys conducted by the World Health Organization (WHO). Obesity Statistics: 1. Overweight adults in the entire world are: One billion (one hundred crore). 2. Children (under five years of age): more than 22 million. 3. By 2015 approximately overweight persons will be: 2.3 billion (230 Crores). 4. Obese people in 2007: 300 million (30 Crores). 5. By 2015 obese people will be: 700 million (70 Crores). 6. Obesity is a problem not only in developed but also in developing countries, where at present 115 million (11.5 crore), people are affected. Obesity is an abnormal and excessive accumulation of fat mass in the body. Over weight and obesity in adults is calculated as follows: The body mass index (BMI= Body weight(in kg), divided by the square of the height(in meters). "Overweight" in adults is defined as, when BMI is greater than or equivalent to 25 and "obesity’’ as when BMI is greater than or equivalent to 3o. Basic mechanism behind Obesity: The hypothalamus, a region in the brain, regulates food intake and the metabolism process in the body. Lack of balance between calorie intake (over eating) and physical activity (less spending of calories) is the reason for Obesity and Overweight. Then the caloric surplus is converted in to fat and stored in the body as adipose tissue. Overweight and obesity are complex problems depending upon many factors. 1. Genetic factors: The first recessive gene involved in obesity in mice and humans was identified by Prof. Jeffrey Friedman in 1994. Today, five mutations of this gene have been identified. It appears that predisposition to obesity is caused by a complex interaction between at least 250 obesity– associated genes. This would mean that people are not equal in their risk of developing obesity. 2. Nutritional factors (in perinatal period): phenomenon called “Metabolic programming or Metabolic imprinting” during early life ,may modulate later obesity risk. 3. Life style factors: With more number of people consuming energy-densed food and eating often in the day, without hungry, is causing obesity. 4. Sedentary life: Today people are leading sedentary lifestyle than did their hunter-gatherer ancestors. Risks or diseases due to obesity are: 1. Type-2 diabetes 2. Cardiovascular (heart) disease 3. Rising of blood pressure (BP) level 4. Strokes 5. Certain types of cancers, etc. Always keep in mind this golden word: “Longer the waist line- shorter the life line”. Source: Business line. … [Read more...]
Facts about Fats
Fat in our body is also called lipids. Fat diet is the major cause for Obesity and Over weight. Types of Fats: Fats are 2 types. 1. Saturated fats 2. Unsaturated fats Unsaturated fats are of 2 types. 1. Mono unsaturated 2. Poly unsaturated At normal temperature, saturated fats are in solid form while unsaturated fats are in liquid form. Fate of fat in our body: IS it good to take more fat in our blood? 1 gram of fat gives 9 calories of energy. Usually body takes the necessary energy for its functioning of routine body activities from fruits and cereals etc. Body utilizes fat as a second alternative only. Hence fat accumulates in the body due to non use in the first phase. After entering into stomach, fat is broken down into fatty acids and glycerol. Fatty acids break into fat globules which gives immediate energy. The excess fatty globules again converted to fatty acids and stored under the skin and around certain organs. Some fat converts to glycogen to be utilized for immediate energy. 1 gram of carbohydrate gives 4 calories of energy. So, accumulated fat causes overweight which in turn leads to diseases like 1. Diabetes 2. High blood pressure 3. Bronchial Asthma 4. Bronchitis 5. Skin thickening Fat in males and females: In females, fat is present more in buttocks and thighs. In males, fat is present around umbilicus (abdominal area). Increase in fatty diet is mainly due to fast foods. Take more fruits and green leaf vegetables. Please comment on the article. … [Read more...]
Health problems due to Obesity
Obesity till recently seen as a disease of developed countries. It is not a cosmetic concern. Obesity is ultimately life threatening. Many Health risks are due to obesity. In the America, more than 3 Lac deaths are linked to obesity annually.In India, 120 million urban Indians are seriously obese. The Indian capital, New Delhi, is called as Obesity capital where 45% males and 55% females suffering from severe obesity. According to World health organization, the Obesity epidemic is increasing faster in developing countries than in the developed world. The prime cause for Obesity is Life style changes as a result of affluence and sedentary life style. We are taking more food with high calories and not burning enough of it with exercise. We know that fat is ugly, but many unaware that it is dangerous as well. Increased work hours and tremendous stress making it difficult for allocating time for exercise. One out of ten urban Indian children is overweight. India is now under fat Tsunami. Obesity in the western countries is associated with poverty while in developing countries; it is the problem of rich. A stout person is always a laughing stock. Health probelms in Obese persons: Obesity leads to life threatening medical conditions. 1. Rise in Blood pressure: If body weight is increased by 1 kg, the heart has to pump the blood more blood. Heart needs to work harder unnecessarily. It leads to heart attack. 2. Stroke: Due to Obesity, The blood supply to the brain is suffered and in tern leads to their rupture. It causes paralysis due to loss of blood supply to that brain tissue. 3. Sleep Apnoea 4. Breathlessness 5. Heart Diseases: hardening of blood vessels due to bad cholesterol and reasons explained above. 6. Rise in Cholesterol levels due to more fat and calories in the obese persons. 7. Stones in the Gall bladder: Fat, females and >40 years are risk factors for Gall stones. 8. Type 2 Diabetes: Obesity increases risk for type 2 diabetes. It makes diabetics insulin resistant. 9. Large bowel cancers: Due to fat food intake . 10. Infertility: Especially women who are obese are more prone to infertility. 11. Osteoarthritis: Bones become thinner and have to bear more weight. Joints are also affected. 12. Shape of the body: There is an increased cardio vascular disease in men with waist measuring more than 101 cm. (in women it is 89 cm). People whose belly is like apple fruit shape are at higher risk of heart diseases than pear shaped ones. So, Obesity is not a cosmetic problem, it is a medical condition. … [Read more...]
