A ‘centimetre increase’ in waist circumference moves one step higher to bowel cancer risk: Study

Scientists have found the evidence that a small increase in the waist circumference can boost the risk of developing bowel cancer higher. A new study shows that a 5-unit increase in waist circumference increases the risk of bowel cancer by 18 percent.

In a longer period of time, the study shows that the risk of bowel concern, also known as colorectal cancer, or CRC, had significantly increased by almost 60 percent in men who gained about 10 centimetres on their waist circumference in 10 years. The researchers said that it could be the persistent inflammation in obese people that increased the cancer risk.

"Bowel cancer is strongly associated with age, obesity and diet - and is driven by inflammation," said professor John Mathers, from the Institute of Cellular Medicine at Newcastle University in the U.K.

The patients, who suffer from Lynch Syndrome, or LS, were found to have the higher-than-normal risk of having the cancer. Lynch Syndrome is an inherited defect found in one of the genes involved in DNA repair.

Mathers said that Lynch Syndrome increases the risk of CRC for those people who have higher body weight, while for those who are already obese, the risk tend to be doubled. However, Mathers had previously conducted earlier studies about the syndrome and found that aspirin works to reduce the CRC risk in obese patients.

He believes that it could be the anti-inflammatory effects delivered by aspirin that lowered the risk of having the cancer. Mathers added that the new study indicates that an active lifestyle and better dietary choices can also help to prevent obesity and reduce the vulnerability to bowel cancer.

"We can now give the public clear advice on the benefits of staying physically active, eating a healthy diet and avoiding weight gain to lower CRC risk as we get older," Mathers said. The study has recently been present at the 23rd United European Gastroenterology Week in Barcelona, Spain on Oct 26.

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