Cancer prevention: Can intentional weight loss reduce a person's risk?

Obesity is one of the biggest causes of cancer. However, it is not a well-known fact as most people focus on avoiding carcinogens that can be found in the environment. Epidemiologist and researcher Dr. Paolo Boffetta notes that carrying excess weight may trigger different types of cancers. But just as many cancer-causing factors can be prevented, losing weight can lower a person's risk of developing the disease.

For those who have been overweight or obese for many years, it's never too late to start taking care of their health. An above normal body mass index (BMI) exposes a person to certain cancers like uterine, gallbladder, kidney, cervical, thyroid, and leukemia. In his many years of research, Dr. Paolo Boffetta has discovered that in Europe and the US, obesity increases a person's risk of developing cancer.

While research about the link between obesity and increased cancer risk is still growing, doctors believe that losing extra weight is a good way to prevent chronic disease. Even if it can be challenging, it is possible. To intentionally lose weight the healthy way, a person must work with a doctor who will ensure that they have the right nutrition and physical activity. While many people have succeeded in losing weight with their do-it-yourself diet plans, the key to reducing cancer risk is to sustain weight loss with the right lifestyle.

To prevent cancers and other diseases, one must do their best to avoid the things that might be harmful to their bodies. This also means practicing good lifestyle habits such as eating a balanced diet, exercising, getting a good amount of rest, and avoiding smoking and binge drinking.

Dr. Paolo Boffetta is a professor and associate director at Stony Brook Cancer Center, Stony Brook University

New York. He is an epidemiologist and a researcher on cancer and other chronic diseases. For more reads on preventing cancer, visit this page.