Losing weight with the Lap-Band can reduce your risk of cancer. Obese people, according to The National Cancer Institute, are at much greater risks of contracting cancer than those who maintain a healthy body weight. Lowering your BMI will not only reduce the risk of many diseases, it enables your body to more easily combat illness.
Does Lap-band Surgery Prevent Cancer?
According to The National Cancer Institute (NCI), obesity increases the risk of many cancers, including breast cancer and cancer of the endometrium, colon, kidney, and esophagus. Additional studies show links between obesity and cancers of the gallbladder, ovaries, pancreas, and stomach.
Obesity and Cancer
A shocking 25-30% of major cancers may be attributed to obesity and inactivity. NCI claims that a weight loss of 5-10% can provide significant health benefits. According to NCI:
* In 2002, more than 40,000 new cases of cancer in the US were estimated to be due to obesity.
* Approximately 3.2 percent of all new diagnosis of cancer are linked to obesity.
* Obese women have 2 to 4 times the risk for developing uterine cancer.
* Obesity increases the risk of colon cancer, primarily in men.
* A person who is obese, has an 84% higher chance of contracting Kidney cancer, than a person of a healthy weight.
* Women who qualify as obese, are at a much higher risk for Gallbladder cancer.
The Good New: Physical Activity Lowers Cancer Risk
Maintaining a healthy body weight is important to overall health. Much has been written about the risk of diabetes for severely overweight individuals. We know that severely obese individuals face many health challenges. Exercise, nutrition, and lifestyle changes are critical to losing weight, and improving health.
The FDA recently approved lower BMI guidelines, allowing more individuals to qualify for Lap-Band surgery. The Lap-Band is an important tool that is extremely effective in weight loss. However, it’s not a miracle cure. Taking control of what you put into your body, and how much you move your body, is entirely up to you. For help with nutrition, be sure to visit my nutritious, low-calorie recipes at www.terrysimpson.com.