A new study shows that losing weight can cause the body to have lower levels of inflammatory cells and proteins. It is previously known that chronic inflammation is a big risk factor for cancer, so having less inflammation leads to a lower cancer risk. However, the study found that there was no reduction if the person participated in an exercise-only method of weight loss with no dieting. A link between obesity, inflammation, and cancer has been seen before, but this adds much more evidence to support it. The findings of the new studies show that the risk can be affected, but they have no idea as to what extent, or if it is a large or small amount.
In Biology this year, we learned about cancer, including its causes, symptoms, and treatments. We learned that there are many different risk factors for cancer, including genetic disposition among others. This article ties in to the things we have learned about cancer, as well as our studies of homeostasis, and how lack of exercise/being overweight can disrupt homeostasis, as well as allow secondary diseases to disrupt homeostasis.
Source:
"Weight loss reduces cancer risk factor"
Nathan Seppa
May 1, 2012
Why would the method not work without dieting in addition to exercise?
ReplyDeleteI'm not sure, but my guess is that there are factors, such as the amount of fatty foods eaten, that really are what affects the cancer risk.
DeleteSeeing that those who did not use the diet restrictions lost less weight, do you think that the reduction is related more closely to amount of weight loss, or dietary factors?
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DeleteI think that it is related to dietary factors because the article suggests that weight loss by exercise had no effect on cancer risk, but the weight loss *by dieting* is also important.
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