Health for Body Mind and Soul

Carrying extra weight, especially around the waist, increases the risk for a variety of diseases.  This includes an increased risk for developing cancer.

A  study, led by Dr. Eric Jacobs of the American Cancer Society, recently analyzed the correlation between waist size and cancer risk.  The study by Dr. Jacobs analyzed questionnaires and tracked the waist sizes submitted by over 48,000 men and over 56,000 women over the course of 10 years.

The final results indicated that waist size does indeed have an impact on the risk for developing cancer.  The study participants with very large waists (defined as more than 47 inches in men and 42 inches in women) had roughly twice the risk of cancer as those with the smallest waist circumference.  For women, the correlation was the strongest between women of normal weight, but with a large waist circumference. View the original source study here.

“We found a pattern showing that expanding waist size was linked to a greater risk of dying regardless of body weight.  Similarly, people with the smallest waist sizes had the lowest risk. The take home message here is watch your waist size regardless of your weight” stated Dr. Jacobs.

The best way to reduce belly fat is not through abdominal exercises.  In fact, to effectively reduce waist fat, a combination of calorie reduction and an increase in cardiovascular exercise is needed.

Adults should aim for 30 minutes of cardiovascular exercise 5 to 7 times each week.  Adding more exercise to your daily routine does not necessarily mean going to the gym on a daily basis.  It can be as easy as starting a walking regimen, playing a group sport, or riding a bike.  Many also find it helpful to invest in a piece of exercise equipment at home to make it easy and convenient to begin an exercise routine.

Along with exercise, improving your diet will help to decrease fat around the waistline.  Adding fresh fruits and vegetables to your diet along with plant-based protein is a proven way to reduce overall weight, especially around the waist.

No matter which exercise and diet routine you choose, you can control some of your risk of developing cancer by reducing your overall waist circumference, whatever you may weigh.