The American Association for Cancer Research’s Sixth Annual Conference held in Philadelphia on Dec. 7, 2007 approached a very serious matter concerning obesity and diabetes, which not only lead to heart conditions, but according to the researchers, can also lead to breast, colorectal or prostate cancer.

Elizabeth Platz, associate professor of epidemiology at John Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health says that: “All of these are consistent with what we would expect with the occurrence of each of these cancers or cancer survival. Metabolic perturbations enhance certain cancers. Insulin and other hormonal factors influence cell growth and make cells multiply.”

According to recent studies by researchers at University of Minnesota, women have a 50 percent increased chance to develop colorectal cancer, due to high levels of insulin in the body when diagnosed with diabetes, while the risk of dying from breast cancer is 2,4 greater for obese women.

"We have known for years that women who are obese are at high risk of breast cancer," Dr. Ahima Rexford, professor of medicine at the University of Pennsylvania said. "Fat tissue makes estrogen, which promotes breast cancer. The frightening thing is that the more obese you are, the greater the risk you have of dying of cancer. For every increase of 10 kilograms, 14 pounds, there is a 14 percent increased risk of breast cancer death." 

On the other hand, men suffering from diabetes also have an increased risk of developing prostate cancer.

Obesity continues to represent a known issue and the latest research programs have shown that not only do they favor heart conditions, but they could also lead to different types of cancer. According to Melinda Irwin, PhD, MPH, an assistant professor at the Yale University School of Public Health in New Haven, Conn., “the message is clear. Paying attention to diet and exercise and trying to maintain a healthy weight is crucial.”