Recent research carried out by Sweden’s Karolinska Institute, and published in the British Journal of Cancer, shows that obesity increases risk of developing pancreatic cancer. The research revealed that obese women are 70% more likely to develop pancreatic cancer than women of a healthy weight. Carrying excess weight around the stomach is the greatest cause of the increase in risk. Previous research had highlighted that obese men are at the greatest risk of developing cancer due to the excess belly fat - men naturally get fat around the stomach, whereas women put fat on around the thighs, buttocks and breasts first.

The study follows 138,000 post menopausal women over a period of seven years. During this time, 251 women developed pancreatic cancer.

Lead researcher Dr Juhua Luo said: “We found that the risk of developing pancreatic cancer was significantly raised in obese post menopausal women who carry most of their excess weight around the stomach.”

Pancreatic cancer is the 6th most common cancer in the UK, and it is very difficult to treat once diagnosed, with mortality rates being at 97-98% after 5 years of diagnosis. Surviving pancreatic cancer is extremely uncommon.

Obesity is still on the increase in the Western world. Although many people, such as celebrity chefs, politicians and athletes, are working hard to help combat the obesity crisis, more people are becoming overweight and obese, which will cause an increase in cases of pancreatic cancer as well as cancer of colon, heart disease and diabetes.

The reasons for the increase risk of pancreatic cancer amongst the obese is not clear. Researchers have suggested that insulin plays a role.

Dr Luo said: “We know that carrying a high proportion of abdominal fat is associated with increased levels of insulin, so we think this may cause the link between obesity and pancreatic cancer.”

Diet is the Key

Dr Lesley Walker, of the charity Cancer Research UK, said: “Pancreatic cancer is associated with particularly poor survival, so it is crucial that we learn more about how to prevent the disease. About a quarter of all cancer deaths are caused by unhealthy diets and obesity and it’s important that people are aware of this risk.”

Finally, other researchers have revealed that being overweight may also be responsible for other forms of cancer, such as breast cancer, cancers of the kidney, oesophagus and endometrium, and bowel cancer, which is biggest cancer killer after lung cancer.

To reduce risk of developing cancer, losing weight is essential. Check your body mass index, and if you are overweight, start exercising and dieting to lose your belly fat.