Research presented at the 72nd Annual Scientific Meeting of the American College of Gastroenterology observed 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 colleagues examined data from 1,252 women who underwent colonoscopy. They classified patients as per 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.

Eventhough smoking posed a significant increased risk for colorectal neoplasia, scientists observed 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 linked to an increased risk of colorectal cancer, patients who lower their BMI could potentially reduce their risk of developing the disease in the future.


Posted by: Evelyn    Source

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