Obesity in women increases risk of endometrial cancer
POSTED June 23, 2009 - 16:15 | POSTED BY Pankhuri Kapoor
Last edited by Harpreet Bhagrath on June 23, 2009 - 22:40
The study by Cheryll C. Thomas and her colleagues from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) states that endometrial cancer was likely to develop more in women under 45 years with a body mass index (BMI) greater than 25 at the time of their last menstrual period.
Details of the study
The researchers reviewed data from Cancer and Steroid Hormone study conducted in 1980’s and found that 421 women between the ages of 20 to 54 had been diagnosed with endometrial cancer.
The latest research included 3159 women respondents from the same areas that were selected in the previous study.
The study found that women younger than 45 had a six times greater risk of developing the cancer than older ones with BMI of 25 or above.
“We suspect that a hormonal imbalance, specifically a lack of progesterone, is likely to blame for the increased risk,” said Thomas.
Obesity’s link with other diseases
According to the CDC, a BMI between 18.5 and 24.9 is considered normal, 25 to 29.9 overweight and 30 or above obese.
"People have to be very aware that obesity not only puts you at risk for heart disease, diabetes, high blood pressure, but also for cancer. Any postmenopausal woman who develops bleeding should call her doctor right away, because these could be signs of cancer,” said Dr. Diane Yamada from the University of Chicago Medical Center.
The research is published in the July issue of ‘Obstetrics & Gynecology’.
