Belly fat has never been good news for anyone and can have severe health impacts. It is the accumulation of visceral fat, which is fat that surrounds the body’s organs.

Studies reveal that belly fat increases the risk of several diseases, such as heart diseases, type 2 diabetes, and even cancer.

What is Belly Fat?

One of the most common misconceptions about belly fat is that it’s merely fat that is stored beneath the skin. That fat is referred to as subcutaneous fat.

However, belly fat is deeper and tends to accumulate around organs, such as the liver and intestines. It is known as visceral fat.

Visceral fat differs from subcutaneous fat as it secretes hormones and inflammatory substances. The immune cells present in visceral fat produce cytokines that cause inflammation, which can trigger severe diseases such as diabetes and cancer.

How Belly Fat Increases the Risk of Cancer

Several studies reveal that belly fat can undoubtedly increase a person’s risk of getting cancer. Visceral fats can be carcinogenic due to the presence of adipokines, hormones produced by fat cells, that can cause inflammation.

Here are some ways belly fat can increase cancer risks.

Hormone Imbalance

The human body secretes plenty of hormones, and an imbalance can have severe health implications – one of the effects includes an increased risk of cancer.

Belly fat can increase levels of estrogen, a female sex hormone, that is known to increase the risk of breast cancer.

The higher levels of estrogen that visceral fat releases can increase the chance of cancer cell growth by interacting with certain cells’ receptors – The stimulation of estrogen receptors fosters cancerous cell growth.

The chances of colon cancer also increase due to high levels of estrogen.

Insulin Resistance

Belly fat can cause insulin resistance in the body. Insulin resistance is a condition where the body’s cells do not respond to insulin properly. The pancreas pumps more insulin than usual into the bloodstream to make up for the increased resistance.

Excess insulin in the bloodstream can cause cancer.

Insulin in a high amount can cause vital organs, including the liver, to malfunction, leading to liver cancer. Studies also reveal that insulin resistance can increase endometrial cancer risk.

Chronic Inflammation

Chronic inflammation is when the immune system produces an inflammatory response even in the absence of an evident threat. Chronic inflammation triggered by belly fat can cause DNA damage that leads to cancerous mutations.

A study revealed that men with high levels of visceral fat had a considerably higher risk of developing pancreatic cancer. Pancreatic cancer is likely caused by a combination of factors, including chronic inflammation.

Conclusion

The importance of maintaining healthy living and being mindful of what goes into one’s body has never been as crucial as it is today.

Avoiding belly fat accumulation is as essential as it can determine whether or not one gets some types of cancer, among other severe diseases. It’s crucial that people reduce their intake of unhealthy foods, start exercising regularly, and reduce alcohol consumption. Taking these measures would significantly reduce the risk of developing several types of cancer.