It has long been known that obesity, one of the biggest problems of our age, causes cancer. So much so that, according to the information shared by the General Directorate of Public Health, 7% to 41% of some cancer types are attributed to overweight and obesity. But until now, no clear answer has been found as to why obesity causes cancer.
A new study by researchers from the University of Bergen in Norway has scientifically revealed the answer to this question. Researchers have shown that lipids (one of the essential organic compounds of living things) associated with obesity make cancer cells more aggressive and more likely to form tumors.
The cancer cell is forced to adapt as a result of weight gain:
The research revealed that the transition from a normal body to an overweight or obese body forces the cancer cell to adapt. Assoc. Dr. Nils Halberg stated that this means that even in the absence of new gene mutations, obesity increases the risk of tumors forming.
Stating that the scientific study of how these two diseases interact is extremely interesting and useful, Halberg explained that this new information will allow researchers to design advanced treatments for obese cancer patients. Obesity is now counted as the cause of approximately 500,000 new cancer cases per year, and this number is expected to increase as obesity rates continue to rise.
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