Abstract
Uterine cancer is a major health problem affecting women in the world. Certain risk factors have been observed to increase the chances of developing this condition. Obesity is one of the risk factors associated with uterine cancer. The number of obese people in the United States is on the rise. Proper knowledge of obesity should be the first step towards dealing with uterine cancer. This paper, therefore, gives a detailed analysis of obesity as a risk factor for uterine cancer.
Introduction
The “uterus in women is hollow in nature and is located in the pelvis” (Arem & Irwin, 2013, p. 635). The uterus (also known as the womb) plays a unique role in supporting the development of the fetus after conception. Uterine cancer occurs when there is an abnormal growth of various cells comprising this hollow organ. Arem and Irwin (2013) argue that many cancers of the uterus start in the inner lining of the womb called the endometrium. The cancers are classified as adenocarcinomas because they are associated with mucus-producing cells (MacKintosh & Crosbie, 2013). Although the main cause of uterine cancer is unknown, studies have linked the condition to various risk factors such as genetic composition, obesity, and the increased intake of estrogen. This discussion focuses on obesity as one of the risk factors for uterine cancer.
Pathogenesis
Obesity is a condition in human beings associated with increased body fat content. The condition is one of the health concerns affecting many people today (MacKintosh & Crosbie, 2013). Unhealthy tissues in the body produce excess hormones such as estrogen. Any increase in estrogen in the human body is widely linked to different cancers. This fact explains why obese women will have a bigger chance of developing uterine cancer. As well, such individuals will have abnormal levels of insulin-like growth factor-1 (IGF-1) and insulin in their circulatory systems. This situation results in insulin intolerance or hyperinsulinemia (Arem & Irwin, 2013). Therefore, intolerance has been associated with the development of different tumors in the body.
Obese individuals tend to have subacute inflammation (Arem & Irwin, 2013). This kind of inflammation creates the best environment for malignancy. The body is known to produce various cell-growth hormones to boost development. However, fat cells tend to produce excess adipokines. Increased percentage of this hormone results in reduced cell growth (Arem & Irwin, 2013). One of these adipokines is leptin. Higher levels of leptin in the body increase the rate of cell division, thereby resulting in abnormal growth. Reduced levels of adiponectin in obese people will result in anti-proliferative effects. Such effects are associated with the development of cancerous cells.
Modern studies have shown conclusively that obese people tend to have ineffective immune responses. This means that their bodies cannot resist various pathogens and infections. Such infections might create the best environment for cancer development. MacKintosh and Crosbie (2013) indicate that “increased fats in the body alter the nuclear factor kappa beta system” (p. 792). This discussion shows clearly that obesity alters (or inhibits) specific functions in the body, thereby creating new opportunities for cancerous cells to grow.
Contribution of the Risk Factor to Cancer Etiology
Vallgarda (2016) indicates that “seven percent of all cancers are directly linked to obesity” (p. 543). Women are at risk of developing a wide range of cancers. A study conducted by the NCI indicated that over 67 percent of all American adults above the age of 20 were either obese or overweight (Obesity and cancer risk, 2016). The percentage of obese people is expected to rise in the coming years. The number of obese children has also increased significantly within the past two decades. This fact shows that obesity is a major risk factor for many health problems affecting many people across the globe.
A study conducted in 2007 indicated that 34,000 cases in males and 50,500 in women were associated with obesity (Vallgarda, 2016). According to the National Cancer Institute (NCI), over 40 percent of endometrial cancers were due to obesity (Obesity and cancer risk, 2016). This fact shows clearly that obesity is the leading factor responsible for the increased cases of uterine cancer in the United States. The NCI estimates that the economic burden of fatness and obesity by the year 2030 will be unbelievable. This is the case because the current trends in obesity have led to more cases of cancer. That being the case, over 500,000 new cancer cases associated with obesity will be reported annually by 2030 (Obesity and cancer risk, 2016). Similar projections are also expected in other nations across the globe.
Prevention of the Risk Factor
Nutritionists and health specialists believe strongly that people can address the problem of obesity. The first path towards dealing with obesity is encouraging more children to engage in healthy habits (Vallgarda, 2016). Adults should make sure they eat healthy diets. They should also monitor their food and calorie needs. This understanding will ensure more people consume balanced food portions. They should also consume vegetables, roughages, and fruits.
Physical activities should also be embraced by individuals who want to tackle this health problem. One of the best approaches is engaging in interesting exercises. People can also walk or run every single day. Such physical exercises will ensure various body organs are functioning optimally (MacKintosh & Crosbie, 2013). The activities will burn fats and make everybody organ healthy. Individuals who use computers and television sets for many hours will find it hard to engage in different physical activities. Experts encourage obese people to avoid video-games and TV programs (MacKintosh & Crosbie, 2013). By so doing, these people will find it easier to engage in tasking activities and eventually make their bodies healthy. Parents should monitor the growth patterns of their children. Every individual should keep track of his or her body mass index (BMI) and weight.
Methods of Early Detection
Early detection of obesity is a powerful approach to dealing with various cancers. This is the case because obesity is a risk factor for various changes in the body that cause cancer. To begin with, obese parents have higher chances of having obese babies. An obese woman will have increased chances of giving birth to an overweight baby (Vallgarda, 2016). It is also appropriate for women to monitor their dietary intake. Women who consume unbalanced foods will become obese within a short period.
Women should always monitor their BMIs. By so doing, every woman will know when he or she has lost or gained much weight. With this knowledge, the individual will undertake the most desirable strategies to manage his or her weight (Vallgarda, 2016). Mothers should be ready to monitor the weight of every child. They should encourage them to engage in various physical exercises and avoid fast foods. The same approach should be used to detect uterine cancer. Women should embrace the power of screening because it has the potential to detect various abnormalities in the uterus. Every obese woman should have her uterus screened regularly. At the same, she should embrace new strategies in an attempt to reduce her weight.
Genetics and Obesity
Nutritionists argue that obesity is a health condition attributed to both hereditary factors and the surrounding environment (MacKintosh & Crosbie, 2013). Scientific researchers have indicated that genes have a unique role in fatness. Vallgarda (2016) argues that the genes of a person can dictate his or her health. This is true because obesity is a health condition found in specific families. Scientists have also identified various genes in the body that are associated with obesity. For instance, monogenetic types of obesity have been used to “explain how mutation can result in fatness” (MacKintosh & Crosbie, 2013, p. 792).
Scholars have indicated that some individuals have genetic predispositions that can result in obesity. When such individuals are exposed to specific environments, they will have increased chances of becoming overweight (Vallgarda, 2016). Modern scientists, therefore, believe that some genetic factors are involved in the development and causation of obesity in human beings. New studies will, therefore, be needed to examine how the combination of these factors increases the chances of developing uterine cancer. The current information encourages women to engage in physical exercises and consume balanced diets. This practice will minimize the number of people with various malignancies such as uterine cancer.
References
Arem, H., & Irwin, M. (2013). Obesity and endometrial cancer survival: a systematic review. International Journal of Obesity, 37(5), 634-639.
MacKintosh, M., & Crosbie, E. (2013). Obesity-driven endometrial cancer: is weight loss the answer. BJOG: An International Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology, 120(1), 791-794.
Obesity and cancer risk. (2016). Web.
Vallgarda, S. (2016). Ethics dilemmas of early detection of obesity. Scandinavian Journal of Public Health, 44(6), 543-545.