Research presented at the 72nd Annual Scientific Meeting
of the American College of Gastroenterology found that obesity,
among other important risk factors, was the strongest risk
factor for colorectal cancer in women.
Joseph C. Anderson, MD of Stony Brook University in New York
(and the University of Connecticut) and his colleagues examined
data from 1,252 women who underwent colonoscopy. They classified
patients according to their age, smoking history, family history
of colorectal cancer, and body
mass index (BMI). Obesity was defined as a BMI of 30 or
higher. For smoking, patients were divided into three groups:
heavy exposure, low exposure, and no exposure. Patients who
were in the heavy exposure group included women who had smoked
more than 10 “pack years” and who were currently smoking or
had quit in the past 10 years.
Although smoking posed a significant increased risk for colorectal
neoplasia, researchers found that for women, obesity was the
highest attributable risk factor for developing the disease.
BMI accounted for one-fifth of all significant polyps detected
during colonoscopy. Of those patients who had colorectal neoplasia,
20 percent were obese and 14 percent were smokers.
“Given the increasing number of obese patients in the U.S.,
identifying them as high risk may have important screening
implications,” said Dr. Anderson. “While obesity is positively
associated with an increased risk of colorectal cancer, patients
who lower their BMI could potentially reduce their risk of
developing the disease in the future.”
About Body Mass Index (BMI)
The
Body Mass Index is a poor measurement (yet still used
by Physicians) and a controversially inaccurate indicator
to assess health. This is especially evident below a BMI of
30. It measures an individual's current weight related to
an ideal body weight. An ideal BMI (which the measurement
considers to be healthy) is between 20.5 and 21.5. A BMI greater
than 30 is generally associated with increased cardiovascular
risk and other health problems related to obesity.
