“Making these changes is not a guarantee against cancer, but it stacks the odds in our favor,” she added.
“Losing weight isn’t easy, but you don’t have to join a gym and run miles every day or give up your favorite food forever,” she said. “Just making small changes that you can maintain in the long term can have a real impact.”
Some of those small changes: “Try getting off the bus a stop earlier and cutting down on fatty and sugary foods,” Sharp said. “Losing weight takes time, so gradually build on these to achieve a healthier lifestyle that you can maintain. And find out about local services, which can provide help and support to make lifestyle changes over the long term,” she suggested.
“We know that our cancer risk depends on a combination of our genes, our environment and other aspects of our lives, many of which we can control,” Sharp said.
More information
The U.S. National Cancer Institute has more about obesity and cancer risk.
Are Black Women More At Risk For Weight-Related Cancers? was originally published on blackdoctor.org
