Being lean may decrease your risk of cancer

Reported by Susan Aldridge, PhD, medical journalist

A study in animals suggests that body composition is a key factor in determining cancer risk.
Previous research has suggested that calorie restriction may decrease the risk of cancer. Now researchers at the University of Alabama at Birmingham reveal how this may work - through body composition. They used mice genetically modified to develop prostate cancer and kept them at either 22 or 27 degrees Centigrade on equal amounts of food. Those at the cooler temperature burned more calories and developed a leaner body composition. They were also developed cancer more slowly.

In another experiment, the mice were kept at the same two temperatures but this time were allowed to eat as much as they liked. The mice at the cooler temperature ate more and ended up with the same body composition as those at the warmer temperature. They also had the same rate of cancer development. Therefore, body composition would seem to be a key factor in cancer risk - keep it lean and the risk is lower.

Source
Cancer Research 1st January 2007

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