Body Weight & Cancer Risk- HDFC Life

Table of Content

1. Relation between body weight and cancer

2. Can losing weight be helpful?

3. Cope up with the inevitable

Obesity has always been linked with various health problems but the gravest of all the cancer can also be caused due to over-weight. According to the researchers every 8 out of 100 obese person can get cancer. Obesity has been directly linked by certain forms of cancers such as pancreatic cancer, colon and rectum cancer, kidney cancer, oesophagus cancer, endometrium (lining of uterus) cancer and breast cancer. Some other cancers such as cancer of liver, cervix, gallbladder, ovary, and prostate can also be related to obesity.

It is noteworthy that breast cancer in obese women is caused only after menopause. However there is no risk of breast cancer for obese woman before menopause. The age at which one gains weight; also needs to be considered while determining if excess body weight can lead to cancer. The weight gained in early stages of life can be a greater risk factor but the gain in weight at a later age might not be a reason for the deadly disease.

Relation between body weight and cancer

With the rapid increase in body weight the level of certain hormones such as insulin and oestrogen gets disrupted thereby leading to cancer. Moreover, obesity also hampers our immune system as well as causes inflammation of organs thereby posing a threat of the disease. It also affects factors such as IGF-1 (Insulin-like Growth Factor 1) that regulate cell growth and proteins such as sex hormone-binding globulin that influence the way body uses certain hormone.

Can losing weight be helpful?

Working out for a toned body will not only make you agile and energetic but will also reduce the risk of cancer as it regulates the hormonal balance. Loss of weight checks insulin, oestrogens, and androgens thereby making the person less prone to the deadly disease.

Cope up with the inevitable

Regulating body weight would certainly be helpful in averting cancer but there are other factors as well which can lead to the disease. Treatment of cancer requires huge amount of money. If not planned, the medical bill for the treatment could be quite pain in the neck. HDFC Life has introduced HDFC Life Cancer Care - Cancer Insurance Policy in India. For the people who want to be prepared in case any such uncalled for situations comes up. This plan offers lump sum benefit on diagnosis of Cancer that helps to protect your income and savings from expenses that aren't covered by your major medical coverage, like Out of pocket medical expenses, Out of Network specialist, Experimental Cancer Treatment, Travel & Lodging etc.