Careful! Doctors say extended waistline, high BMI may raise cancer risk
It was also noted that men who had an extra 11cm on their waistline by the end of the study were 25% more likely to develop cancer. In terms of BMI, an increase in the score by 3.7 points was associated with a 19% higher risk of cancer.
New Delhi: An extended waistline, high body mass index (BMI), and obesity are common causes of concern these days, and with that comes a host of health problems ranging from metabolic disorders to heart diseases, and as per a study, even cancer. According to Swedish scientists, one of the most accurate ways to assess cancer risk in men is by measuring their waist circumference. However, this is not the first time that waist circumference has been associated with health problems. A 2022 study from Oxford University found that every extra inch in the waistline spikes heart failure risk by 11%.
The new study, however, from Lund University in Malmö, analysed health records of 339,190 people between 1981 and 2019. For this, researchers followed participants for 14 years during which they developed cancers of the liver, pancreas, bowel, breast, gallbladder, and oesophagus. It was also noted that men who had an extra 11cm on their waistline by the end of the study were 25% more likely to develop cancer. In terms of BMI, an increase in the score by 3.7 points was associated with a 19% higher risk of cancer. In women, however, this association was a lot less prominent.
How is BMI associated with cancer risk?
Researchers noted that a 12cm increase in waist circumference and a rise in BMI score by 4.3 points can spike cancer risk by 13%. The same will be presented at the European Congress on Obesity in Malaga, Spain, in May this year, and will be published in The Journal of the National Cancer Institute. Researchers further explained that waist size is a better measure as BMI does not give accurate information on fat distribution. Experts said that stomach fat ends up accumulating around organs, making tumour more likely. However, it was also noted that two people with the same BMI could have different cancer risks depending on where fat accumulation is high.
Why is belly fat an important risk factor for cancer?
Waist size is a better predictor for men as they are more likely to store belly fat, and women are more likely to store fat all over. Therefore, experts recommend regularly monitoring body weight. If the BMI increases, it would not be monitored timely manner, thereby raising the risk of obesity and consequent health problems later.
How to measure waist circumference?
Experts recommend taking an accurate waist measurement, which must be done before having the first meal. Then follow these steps:
1. Stand up straight
2. Take a few deep breaths and then relax
3. Find the top of the hip bone from the end of the ribcage and measure around the part of the waist in between
4. Ensure that the tape is not too tight
5. Exhale normally and then check your waist circumference
Ideally, as per the WHO, it should be 35 inches for women and 40 inches for men.