A recent study on lifestyle and cancer issues led by the World Cancer Research Fund discovered a strong link between gaining weight and a higher risk of developing cancer.

The study’s authors revised 7,000 existing studies over five years and discovered that body fat has a higher significance, being a key factor in developing cancer.

This report found an astonishing connection between excessive fat and six types of cancer: esophagus, pancreas, colon and rectum, endometrium and kidney and breast cancer in post-menopausal women.

The study estimated that one third of cancer cases are related to the patient’s lifestyle, meaning that more then three million of the 10 million cases of cancer worldwide could be prevented through a change of lifestyle.

The American Institute for Cancer and the World Cancer Research Fund propose 10 recommendations for a healthier lifestyle that might help preventing cancer.

These recommendations include consuming a limited amount of red meat per week, no more than 500g; consuming a limited amount of alcohol or none at all, men no more than two drinks and women no more than one drink per day.

The report recommends complete avoidance of bacon, ham and other processed meats; consuming sugary drinks and fruit juices should also be limited, while a healthy, vegetarian kind of diet that includes fruits and vegetables and no dietary supplements, is advised.

In addition, physical activity is recommended on a daily basis; as much as possible, the body should be preserved within the normal range of body weight as determined by the World Health Organization, also known as Body Mass Index (BMI). BMI takes into account height and weight; healthy weight is considered to be between 18.5 and 25.

The study shows that any gain higher than a 21 BMI value increases the risk of developing cancer.

The study’s authors also made specifications about breastfeeding babies in order to reduce the risk of breast cancer in mothers and the risk of obesity in children.

W. Philip T. James, chairman of the London-based International Obesity Task Force, said that these recommendations emphasize that, “Even small amounts of excess body fat, especially if carried at the waist, increase risk [of cancer].”