Obesity and Colon Cancer

Recent research, though it is quite preliminary is showing a link between obesity and colon cancer. Abdominal fat was found in the research to have shown the highest risk and chance of developing cancer. The goal of the research is to learn about the risks, links and chances of developing colon cancer since it strikes hundreds of thousands of patients each year. Also the research was focused on colon cancer because it adversely affects both genders, unlike prostate cancer and breast cancer. Science Daily reported on the research saying, "Leptin - a fat cell-derived hormone regulating body energy - is higher in obese individuals. Fenton's study is the first to demonstrate that, at higher levels, leptin induces precancerous colon cells to produce more of a growth factor that can increase blood supply to early cancer cells - promoting tumor growth and cancer progression."