Body Weight And Height During Adolescence May Be A Key Factor In Developing Non-Hodgkin's Lymphoma [Study Reveals]

There has been a significant increase in the number of cases of non-Hodgkin's Lymphoma (NHL). This type of cancer has been known as one of the most common cancer in the United States and affects the lymphocytes which are part of the body's immune system.

Every year there are at least 65,000 Americans who are diagnosed with it. A recent study has revealed that there may be a way to predict if you or anyone you know is at risk of having non-Hodgkin's Lymphoma in the future by their body weight and height. Most common risk factors usually involve old age, exposure to benzene, and other autoimmune diseases like rheumatoid arthritis.

Dr. Merav Leiba of Sheba Medical Center in Israel leads the study, according to Medical Daily. They have discovered that height and body weight in adolescence can be a factor in determining the development of non-Hodgkin's lymphoma. Researchers have found that being overweight during the adolescent stage had a 25% risk of developing this type of cancer later in life than those who have normal weight. The researchers also have evidence connecting the risk factor to other types of cancers.

Over the past 30 years, there has been a significant increase in the number of reported cases of NHL. In Israel, the number of cases of NHL was found to have risen by 27% between the years 1990 and 2012. This was one of the reasons why researchers were urged to do an in-depth study to the subject.

Researchers utilized data from Israel National Cancer Registry and found that among 2,352,988 teens aging from 16-19, there are 4,021 have reported that they have NHL, Medical News Today reported. In a statement released by Dr. Leiba, he explained that obesity and being overweight during adolescence are risk factors for the development of NHL in the future. "It is important to be aware that overweight and obesity are not risk factors only for diabetes and cardiovascular disease but also for lymphomas," he said

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