Stark warning on cancer link to alcohol and weight

BEING overweight and drinking too much alcohol increase an individual’s risk of getting cancer, according to a key report released yesterday.

The World Cancer Research Fund survey issues a stark warning about the clear links between lifestyle, diet and exercise and the risk of developing the often fatal disease.

And it states that there is a direct relation between the extent of excessive weight and alcohol intake and the likelihood of falling victim to cancer.

The survey team has not carried out new research, but has reviewed 500,000 published papers from around the world, selecting the 7,000 most relevant and distilling their findings on cancer into a single report.

Survey chair Professor Michael Marmot, professor of epidemiology and public health at University College London, said he was surprised at the strength of the link it established between weight and cancer risk.

He said there was a “very clear message” from its findings. “Firstly, as you enter adulthood, don’t put on weight. Secondly, if you are already overweight, it is likely that losing weight would lower your risk.

“We have known about obesity and overweight in relation to cardiovascular disease and diabetes. The idea that it is strongly linked to cancer, I think, is relatively new.”

The direct link between increased weight and increased cancer risk was even stronger than that linking cigarettes with cancer, Professor Marmot suggested.

“With smoking, we know that if you smoke you increase your risk, but most smokers in the end don’t get cancer, so it’s not a one-to-one relation,” he explained.

“With obesity and overweight, it is clear and it is a graded phenomenon. The more overweight you are; the more obese you are, the higher the risk of cancer.”

Prof Marmot said the evidence of a link between alcohol and cancer had become “much firmer” over the 10 years since a similar survey was last undertaken.

“It seems pretty clear that for cancer, it is a graded phenomenon,” he said, adding: “The more alcohol, the higher the risk.”

But he added: “We know that a moderate amount of alcohol protects against heart disease, so there is a balance between lowering the alcohol in order to prevent cancer and not totally doing without the protective effect on heart disease.”

Researchers say there is “convincing” evidence that excess body fat can cause six different types of common cancers, including those affecting the breast, bowel and pancreas.

To guard against cancer, everyone should be at the lower end of the healthy weight range, the scientists warn.

Since the first report was published in 1997, the number of types of cancer for which there is “convincing” evidence of body fat being a causal factor has risen from one to six.

The report says there is powerful evidence excess body fat is not only a trigger for endometrial cancer, but also oesophagus, pancreatic, bowel, post-menopausal breast and kidney cancers.

A specific strong link is said to exist between fat around the abdomen and bowel cancer.

There is also a “probable” connection between body fat and gall bladder cancer, and abdominal fat and pancreatic, post-menopausal breast, and endometrial cancer, the evidence suggests.

Body Mass Index is calculated by dividing a person’s weight in kilogrammes by height in metres squared.

A figure of 18.5 to 24.9 is considered “normal” and 25 to 29.9 “overweight”.

BMI calculation

THE Body Mass Index (BMI) calculation involves comparing a person’s weight with their body height. It applies equally to men and women.

To calculate divide your weight in kilogrammes by the square of your height in metres.

A BMI of 25 to 29.9 is considered overweight and 30 or above is considered obese. People with BMIs between 19 and 22 may live longest. Death rates are noticeably higher for people with indexes 25 and above.

The BMI is not infallible. For instance, it is possible for a healthy, muscular athlete with very low body fat to be classified obese using the BMI calculator.

Frame sizes vary and it is difficult for any simple measurement to establish a person’s frame. It is more accurate to recommend a weight range, rather than a specific weight for a given height.

Weight is also related to build, and you should make allowances if you are stocky or of heavy build. Your BMI will vary slightly according to gender.

* Work out your height in metres and multiply the figure by itself.

* Measure your weight in kilogrammes.

* Divide the weight by the height squared (the answer to the first question). For example, you might be 1.6m (5ft 3in) tall and weigh 65kg (10st).

The calculation would then be: 1.6 x 1.6 = 2.56.

BMI would be 65 divided by 2.56 = 25.39.

Healthy eating

The panel’s key recommendations for avoiding cancer through diet were:

* Be as lean as possible within the normal range of body weight.

* Be physically active as part of everyday life.

* Limit consumption of energy-dense foods, and avoid sugary drinks.

* Eat mostly foods of plant origin.

* Limit intake of red meat and avoid processed meat.

* Limit consumption of salt.

* Aim to meet nutritional needs through diet alone.

* If a new mother, breastfeed your baby.