One of the most important things you can do to decrease your cancer risk is maintain a healthy weight.
You may be surprised to learn that being overweight or having obesity is linked to a higher risk of getting at least 13 types of cancer. In fact, the 13 cancers make up 40% of all cancers diagnosed in the United States each year. In the field of obesity medicine, we use a BMI of 25-30 to define overweight and a BMI of greater than 30 to define obesity.
Some of these cancers include:
- Cancer of the esophagus
- Breast cancer
- Colon cancer
- Uterine cancer
- Ovarian cancer
- Pancreatic cancer
- Thyroid cancer
You see, weight gain causes long-lasting inflammation and higher than normal levels of insulin and other hormones in your body. The risk of cancer increases with the longer you are overweight. Experts believe that the increased risk is largely due to the inflammation caused by an increase in visceral or abdominal fat.
One of the most important things you can do to decrease your cancer risk is maintain a healthy weight. Below are some important steps you can take to prevent obesity.
- Stay active. Aim for 150 minutes of moderate activity or 75 minutes of vigorous activity a week.
- Eat a healthy diet. Fill at least ¾ of your plate with healthy protein and vegetables and no more than a ¼ with other carbohydrates.
- If you drink alcohol, limit yourself to one drink per day if you are a woman, and two per day if you are a man.
- Get plenty of rest. Fatigue can make you want to eat more and make unhealthy choices.
At Physicians Premier Weight & Wellness Center we are dedicated to helping people live their healthiest life. To learn more or if you are ready to get started on your healthiest journey, please reach out to us at https://healthymeweightloss.com/contact-us/
