Hormonal instability caused by repeatedly gaining and losing weight may be a key factor raising the risk of uterine cancer in women who are not overweight and have no chronic illnesses, according to Sergei Muravyov, a professor in the department of hospital surgery No. 2 at Sechenov University in Moscow.
Muravyov told Lenta.ru that statistics show the disease is most often diagnosed in women over 55 who have obesity, diabetes and hypertension. But he said tumors can also develop in women who lead active lifestyles and carry no excess weight.
"This category of women is also at risk," Muravyov said, according to the outlet.
The weight fluctuation theory
Muravyov said the cause may lie in frequent weight gain and loss, even small swings of just two to three kilograms. He said this pattern can alter levels of sex hormones, creating cycles of shortage and excess in the body.
According to his hypothesis, this kind of hormonal instability is the one factor capable of triggering the appearance of cancerous cells in an otherwise normal endometrium, the lining of the uterus.
Who gets uterine cancer
Uterine cancer, also known as cancer of the body of the uterus or endometrial cancer, is one of the most common cancers of the female reproductive system. It typically develops in older women and has long been associated with risk factors including obesity, diabetes and high blood pressure, all of which are linked to elevated estrogen levels that can encourage abnormal cell growth in the uterine lining.
Ongoing research at Sechenov University
Scientists at Sechenov University are now testing Muravyov's hypothesis. They are comparing women of normal and excess weight with patients diagnosed with cancer of the body of the uterus, examining their diet, lifestyle, weight fluctuations and how often they visit a gynecologist.
If the link is confirmed, the findings could be used to develop new methods for early detection of the disease.
Other cancer risk warnings
Oncologist and mammologist Magomed Sulimanov previously warned that vaping may raise the risk of breast cancer in women. He said substances in heated tobacco systems create a toxic load on the body that can trigger the cancer process.
