Obesity Increases Risk of Cancer; Millions of Women Should Loss Weight Before Turning Up for Breast Cancer Screening

Overweight and obese women should workout not just to keep in shape but also to keep themselves away from cancer. New reports suggest that maintaining an unhealthy weight increases one's risk of cancer.

Per The Sun, the rate of breast cancer increases by 70 percent since the 1970s. Seven in 10 women are too fat at screening. But the good thing is women can do something to help themselves. Losing at least 5 percent of weight reduces one's risk by a quarter. Moreover, four in 10 tumors are reportedly preventable by slimming.

Mirror reported that over 50,000 women are diagnosed with breast cancer and this resulted in 12,000 casualties every year.

To reduce this rate, health officials are encouraging women to work on their weight. Overweight and obese women should slim down at breast screening.

Prof. Annie Anderson, of Dundee University revealed that if medics tell their patients that they are overweight, they are more likely to quit from their unhealthy habits.

Many women are still unaware that their lifestyle affects breast cancer. The risk can be reduced with proper lifestyle and good habits. Anderson believes that the best time to offer lifestyle lectures is during screening.

Tam Fry, of the National Obesity Forum, agrees. "It is right to use breast screening episodes to lecture women," he said. "Disastrously, there is a cult in the NHS that women will be upset and frightened off if the subject of weight is broached. How stupid - many will suffer from the omission."

According to Jacquie Jenkins, Public Health England's Breast Screening Programme Manager the current setup of screening in the country does not include lifestyle advice because it only aims to detect cancer at the earliest stage when treatment can be offered to extend the patient's life. However, she finds the new study interesting.

"Maintaining a sensible weight, having a healthy diet and doing a reasonable amount of exercise are all good ways to stay healthy and reduce your risk of breast cancer," she added.