Updated on Sunday, November 08, 2009, 09:38 IST Tags:Cancer, Fat

Washington: Here is another reason why you should think about shedding flab seriously – American scientists have claimed obese people are at a greater risk of cancer.

According to researchers at the American Institute for Cancer Research (AICR), excess body fat plays a central role in many of the common forms of cancer.

"It's clearer than ever that obesity's impact is felt before, during and after cancer - it increases risk, makes treatment more difficult and shortens survival," lead researcher Laurence Kolonel said, adding excess fat leads to cancer in over one lakh Americans every year.

Highlighting the emerging evidence of the link between obesity and cancer, Kolonel said the strongest evidence suggests that excess body fat increases the level of sex steroids and other hormones that are linked to cancer growth, AICR said.

"For example, fat tissue produces estrogen; studies have shown that estrogen promotes cell proliferation in breast tumours that leads to cancer," he said.

The scientists examined seven cancer types with known links to obesity and calculated actual case counts that were likely to have been caused by excess fat.

"This is the first time that we've put real, quantifiable case numbers on obesity-related cancers," he added.

Bureau Report