Belly fat is notorious for being difficult to get rid of. But getting rid of belly fat and obesity with regular exercise and a proper diet can help reduce the risk of not just diabetes and cardiovascular issues but cancer, too. Several experts and studies also say that the apple-shaped paunch increases the risk of cancer, independent of body weight.
Does belly fat increase the risk of cancer?
Dr Anirban Sinha, consultant, diabetes and endocrinology, AMRI Hospital, Kolkata, says, belly fat or visceral fat increases the risk of all obesity-related complications, including cancer. “In India, even if people are lean, many have belly fat, increasing the cancer risk. Subcutaneous fat is not as significant a concern as visceral fat,” he says.
How does obesity cause cancer?
Though the exact process of belly fat causing cancer is not well understood, experts say some mechanisms increase the risk of cancer in people with obesity and belly fat. Dr Vedant Kabra, principal director, surgical oncology, Fortis Cancer Institute, Fortis Gurugram & Def. Colony, New Delhi, says, “Estrogen is produced more in the fatty tissues when one has belly fat. It can lead to the multiplication of cells and production of cancer like breast and ovarian cancer.”
People with more belly fat are also more insulin resistant. “The metabolism of glucose is affected, which can stimulate abnormal cell proliferation, raising the risk of cancers of the colon, kidney, prostate, and uterus. Due to metabolic alteration of the body as the result of obesity, there can be low-grade inflammation and oxidative stress that increases the risk of abnormal growth of cells and cell proliferation,” says Dr Sinha. Certain cancers like gall bladder cancer and liver cancer can be caused due to low-grade inflammation, adds Dr Kabra.
He includes that people with metabolically healthy obesity are also at risk for cancer, but the risk is not as high compared to those with obesity.
What cancers are caused by obesity?
Breast and uterine cancers, especially in post-menopausal women, and prostate and colorectal cancer among men are probably the most common types of cancer associated with belly fat, say experts. The other types of common cancers include:
- Liver cancer
- Pancreatic cancer
- Esophageal cancer
- Endometrial cancer
- Kidney cancer
How it affects cancer treatment
Belly fat can affect the effectiveness of cancer therapy and increase the risk of complications. The surgery can take longer, prolonging the exposure to anaesthesia and leading to more risk of post-operative complications. “The risk of blood loss, wound complications, or lymphedema (swelling of the lymph) – which is a complication of surgery for certain cancers like breast cancer – may increase up to three times as compared to those without obesity,” says Dr Kabra.
Planning radiotherapy can also get difficult. The toxicity experienced by people with obesity due to radiation is also high, say experts. “In breast cancer, if the breasts are large due to obesity, then the risk of skin complications after radiotherapy is also high,” says Dr Kabra. Dr Sinha adds, “There is a hypothesis that if there is a higher density of tissue on the path of radiation as is the case with obesity, it can potentially affect radiation exposure to the targeted cancer tissue.”
In chemotherapy, Dr Kabra says the chances of complications are higher, especially among those with obesity and diabetes. They have a greater risk for neuropathy. Also, the more the body weight, the higher the dose, adds Dr Sinha.
Ways to reduce the risk of cancer
Experts say belly fat reduction does reduce the risk of cancer as well as recurrence of cancer in future. “But if one already has cancer, it won’t change the prognosis,” says Dr Sinha.
Experts say people with obesity have a 20 to 30 per cent higher risk of mortality from cancer, compared to those who are not obese. Various steps can be taken to reduce the risk of cancer.
- Reduce belly fat.
- Maintain a healthy weight.
- Do regular exercises.
- Maintain a healthy diet rich in wholegrain, vegetables, fruits and beans.
- Limit the consumption of red and processed meat.
- Avoid excess sugar, sweetened beverages, alcohol and smoking.
- Include micronutrients and vitamins naturally in food for a balanced diet.
Takeaways
- Belly fat can increase the risk of several cancers.
- It leads to low-grade inflammation, insulin resistance and oxidative stress which can lead to abnormal cell growth and proliferation, increasing the risk of cancer.
- Breast and uterine cancer in women and prostate and colorectal cancer in men are common.
- Belly fat can affect the effectiveness of cancer therapy as well as increase the risk of complications too.
- Belly fat reduction does reduce the risk of cancer as well as the recurrence of cancer in future.
- Maintaining a healthy lifestyle, regular exercises and a proper diet can help reduce the extra belly fat and hence, reduce the risk of cancer.
