Be thin to cut cancer, study says























Even those who are not overweight should slim down if they want to cut
their risk of cancer, a major international study has claimed.



The World Cancer Research
Fund carried out the largest ever inquiry into lifestyle and cancer,
and issued several stark recommendations.




They include not gaining weight as an adult, avoiding sugary drinks and alcohol, and not eating bacon or ham.









Everyone must also aim to be as thin as possible without becoming underweight.


















People with a Body Mass Index (BMI), a calculation which takes into
account height and weight, of between 18.5 and 25, are deemed to be
within a "healthy" weight range.















































Cancer is not a fate, it is a matter of risk, and you can adjust those
risks by how you behave. It is very important that people feel that
they are in control of what they do
















Professor Martin Wiseman








Report author















































































But the study says their risk increases as they head towards the 25
mark, and that everyone should try to be as close to the lower end as
possible.




There is no new research involved in this document: the panel examined 7,000 existing studies over five years.









The result, they say, is the most comprehensive investigation ever into the risks of certain lifestyle choices.




















































RECOMMENDATIONS INCLUDE:

















Limit red meat












Limit alcohol












Avoid bacon, ham, and other processed meats












No sugary drinks












No weight gain after 21












Exercise every day












Breastfeed children












Do not take dietary supplements to cut cancer














































They see body fat as a key factor in the development of cancer,
estimating its significance to be much higher than previously thought.




The report's authors say they have produced a list of recommendations, not "commandments".





"But if people are interested in reducing their cancer risk, then
following the recommendations is the way to do it," said Professor
Martin Wiseman. "Cancer is not a fate, it is a matter of risk, and you
can adjust those risks by how you behave. It is very important that
people feel that they are in control of what they do."







Making cuts








However, two-thirds of cancer cases are not thought to be related to
lifestyle, and there is little people can do to prevent the disease in
these circumstances.











































READ THE FINDINGS
















































Most computers will open this document automatically, but you may need Adobe Reader

















































Nevertheless, more than three million of the 10 million cases of cancer
which are diagnosed across the world each year could be prevented if
the recommendations were followed, Professor Wiseman indicated.




In the UK alone, there are 200,000 new cases of cancer each year.





Cancers of the colon and breast are some of the most common forms of
the disease, and the report says the evidence is "convincing" that body
fat plays a key role in the development of these tumours.




The report also links the kind of food consumed to cancers, especially colorectal ones.





In particular, researchers say people should stop eating processed
meats, such as ham, bacon and salami, and limit the consumption of red
meat to 500g a week - although this still means you could eat, for
instance, five hamburgers each week.











































The main message I would have is not to worry about it, to enjoy life,
if you like a glass of wine have it, and a small amount of meat is not
going to harm you
















Karol Sikora








Cancer specialist




































































From a cancer perspective, all alcohol should be avoided, although
researchers accepted drinking small amounts could have protective
benefits for other diseases. The recommendation is therefore no more than two drinks a
day for a man, and no more than one for a woman, slightly less than
current UK government guidelines.




Sugary drinks meanwhile should be avoided, as these make you fat, and fruit juice consumption should also be reduced.





The report is also the first to urge breastfeeding as a means to
protect against cancer, arguing that it may reduce breast cancer in the
mother and prevent obesity in the child - although this has not been
proven. Commenting ahead of the report's release, cancer
specialist Professor Karol Sikora said: "There's absolutely nothing
magic about 10 bullet points to prevent cancer. "The main message I would have is not to worry about
it, to enjoy life, if you like a glass of wine have it, and a small
amount of meat is not going to harm you."










Story from BBC NEWS:

http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/pr/fr/-/2/hi/health/7069914.stm



Published: 2007/10/31 11:01:47 GMT



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