Sugar Sweetened Beverages, Obesity And Cancer

Several lifestyle and nutritional factors are now being linked to the development of a body mass index (BMI) indicative of obesity. Among these factors are the consumption of a diet rich in carbohydrates and fat, lack of physical activity, cigarette smoking, and more.

The relationship between a number of lifestyle factors and endometrial cancer was recently evaluated by scientists who examined data drawn from the Iowa Women's Health Study, which was conducted from 1986 to 2010. This study, which was recently published in the journal Cancer Epidemiology, Biomarkers and Prevention, involved more than 23,000 postmenopausal women, ages 55 to 69 years.

The researchers asked the participants about their level of physical activity, smoking history, use of estrogen hormone, alcohol intake, and their diet, among other things during the last 12 months. They also asked about the participants' frequency of consumption of popular sugary beveerages like Coke and Pepsi, sugar-free drinks, lemonade, and other beverages, sweets and other baked goods, fruits and vegetables, meat, and other foods in the diet.

While previous studies have already suggested a possible association between obesity and endometrial cancer, this study reveals more. The researchers led by Maki Inoue-Choi, M.S from the University of Minnesota found that postmenopausal women who most frequently consumed sugary drinks were almost 80 percent more likely to develop endometrial cancer compared to those who reported the least consumption, regardless of their body weight, physical activity levels, and other lifestyle factors. Women who eventually developed type 1 endometrial cancer (more than 500) had the highest consumption of sugary beverages. However, a similar association was not found in participants who developed type 2 endometrial cancer.

Sugary Drinks Increase Endometrial Cancer Risk

Sugary drinks like popular sodas, fruit juices and other carbonated and non-carbonated drinks are the leading sources of added sugars in the typical American diet. Compared to sugars found in whole foods such as fruits and vegetables, the sugars found in these beverages are more easily metabolized and absorbed by the body, leading to rapid increases in blood sugar and insulin levels very quickly. Frequent consumption therefore of these beverages can result in type 2 diabetes and obesity. A comprehensive review of literature conducted by the 2007 World Cancer Research Fund/American Institute for Cancer Research (WCRF/AICR) showed that SSB intake plays a significant role in obesity, which is linked to endometrial cancer. These findings were supported by recent research, although more evidence must be gathered to make more binding conclusions and to find out the exact mechanisms involved in the process of developing the disease.

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A high intake of sugary beverages is often associated with other unhealthy habits such as eating foods that are high in carbohydrates and low in nutritional value and physical inactivity. Since it has been found that these popular drinks can lead to many serious health problems, some schools and other institutions have taken action to reduce the consumption of sugary drinks. Measures are also being taken to lower the incidence of obesity even among people in younger age groups.