Overweight Ranks Second to Smoking in Causing Cancer

[Guest guest]

Here we come full circle. A decade after the American Institute for

Cancer Research issued its first major report on diet and cancer, a

new magnum opus in concert with the World Cancer Research Fund was

published late last year. Based on 7,000 studies of 17 kinds of

cancer, it concluded that being overweight now ranks second only to

smoking as a preventable cause of cancer. " Convincing evidence " of an

increased risk resulting from body fatness was found for cancers of

the kidney, endometrium, breast, colon and rectum, pancreas and

esophagus.

Other major findings of increased risk included red and processed

meats for colon and rectal cancer, and alcoholic drinks for cancers of

the mouth, throat, larynx, esophagus, breast, and colon and rectum.

" Convincing evidence " for cancer protection was found for physical

activity against colon and rectal cancers, and for breastfeeding

against breast cancer. " Probable " protection against various cancers

was also found for dietary fiber; nonstarchy vegetables; fruits; foods

rich in folates, beta-carotene, vitamin C and selenium; milk, and

calcium supplements.

****************************