Obesity reduces the survival rate of ovarian tumors

Obese women with ovarian tumors have a poorer prognosis than women who are not obese. New Studies show that obese women who develop ovarian tumor have a lower chance of survival than women who have normal or excessive body weight. According to a study published in the journal Cancer, obese women have less time to re-appearance of tumors. Obesity is a known risk factor for several malignant diseases, including endometrial tumor, kidney, breast and colon tumor. This study is the first in which obesity is identified as an independent factor in progression of ovarian tumors and survival. Scientists believe that fat cells are making some hormonal factor that stimulate tumor cells to behave more aggressively and are less resistant to traditional chemotherapeutics. The study included 216 women who all had epithelial ovarian tumor, otherwise the most common form, which originated from the cell surface of the ovary, which are called epithelial cells. Women's tumor was operated in the period of 1996-2003. 8% of patients were malnourished, 50% had ideal body weight, 26% had excessive body weight, 16% were obese (defined by Body Mass Index 30 and over).

Women with BMI of more than 25 (on the border of excessive weight) had a shorter time of survival without cancer than women with lower BMI. How BMI was increased, so did the chance to die from tumors also. When the scientists evaluated all 216 patients, they did not found great difference between survival of obese women and women with an ideal body weight. However, when they considered advancing of disease (stage III and IV) different flow was observed. In these women a higher BMI was associated with shorter time of appearance of tumors and shorter survival time. According to the statistics of American Cancer Society 20 000 women in the United States annually is diagnosed with ovarian tumor, and 15 000 women a year die from ovarian cancer. Scientists believe that these new findings are another reason for maintaining normal body weight.

Won battle against obesity

Seventeen years old Jess Smith, who managed to lose 44 kilos, became the youngest advisor for obesity at British National Health Service

Jess had, when she was 15 years old, 117 kilograms after, as she had said, she had eaten huge quantities of fast food, chocolate bars and snacks after which she had soda drinks.

Once the doctors warned her that her health is seriously threatened and when she saw her photos from holidays in Spain, Jess decided to change the unhealthy living habits.

Young Brit said that the sought comfort in unhealthy food after her father died when she was nine years old. She admitted that she turned to food because she was depressed and that she later felt guilty conscience. After that she would feel bad again and reached for meals.
'I was not at all engaged in any physical activities, just would eat food and sit in front of TV or played games on PC. I was addicted to fast food, would skip breakfast and 'killed myself' in chocolate bars, crisps, cakes, ice cream, and have drunk liters of carbonated drinks. After the warnings of physicians, and after I saw my pictures from holidays, I decided to change, 'says Jess, who in two years managed to lose 44 kilograms. She completely avoid unhealthy eating of sweets and snacks, and instead she liked yogurt and fruit. She changed her earlier way of life and says that she feels like a new person. I move a lot more, swim, eat black bread, fruit, vegetables and yogurt. I forgot all about unhealthy food, as well as my former figure, 'says Jess, who after the course of NHS about healthy diet, is the youngest advisor for obesity at British National Health Service.