| Next time you take another bite when you | | | | of breast cancer by keeping their weight |
| aren't actually hungry, you might want to | | | | steady. Compared to women who gained less |
| think about what else you might be opting | | | | than five pounds during adulthood, those who |
| for, besides an extra scrumptious morsel | | | | gained more than 45 pounds had 40 percent |
| -perhaps it could be cancer. | | | | higher risk of developing breast cancer after |
| | | | menopause. The more weight a woman puts on |
| One of the most important steps you can take | | | | after menopause, the more estrogen her body |
| to lower your risk of cancer is to maintain a | | | | produces- and the higher her risk of breast |
| healthy weight. Most of us have been hearing | | | | cancer. Overweight women are often diagnosed |
| about genetic and environmental pollutants | | | | with breast cancer at a later stage, when it |
| for so long that we think cancer is beyond | | | | is more difficult to treat. |
| our control, but in fact, more than 50 | | | | |
| percent of all cancers can be prevented with | | | | Colon Cancer |
| a healthy lifestyle. While most people are | | | | |
| aware that a healthy weight can reduce the | | | | Colon Cancer is one of the most common types |
| risk of heart disease, stroke, diabetes, | | | | of cancer, but it is also one of the most |
| osteoarthritis, gall bladder disease, and | | | | preventable. Among the many ways that men and |
| sleep apnea, few realize that it can also | | | | women can lower their risk of this disease is |
| lower the risk of some of the most common | | | | to maintain a healthy weight. Data shows that |
| types of cancer, including breast, colon, and | | | | obese people are 50 percent more likely than |
| endometrial cancer. | | | | lean adults to develop non-cancerous growths |
| | | | in the colon that have the potential become |
| Are You a Healthy Weight? A healthy weight is | | | | cancerous. |
| defined by a body mass index (BMI) of 25 or | | | | |
| lower. Higher than 30 is the medical | | | | So instead of opting for maybe a possible |
| definition of obesity, which usually marks | | | | malignancy with those extra helpings, help |
| the threshold researchers define as | | | | yourself to a mindfulness of determining |
| associated with increased risks. To find out | | | | whether or not really are hungry, and |
| yours, go to | | | | congratulate yourself for making a healthy |
| | | | choice. |
| Breast Cancer | | | | |
| | | | (Some excerpts printed with permission from |
| According to the Harvard Nurse's Health | | | | The Nurses Health Study Annual Newsletter |
| Study, women may be able to lower their risk | | | | November 2003, vol. |