Alcohol consumption, obesity and eating processed meats were all linked to stomach cancer in a comprehensive review of global research released Thursday by the American Institute for Cancer Research and the World Cancer Research Fund.
For the report, researchers analyzed global data on stomach cancer, diet, physical activity and weight. Eighty-nine studies were examined, covering health information gathered from 17.5 million adults, 77,000 of whom were diagnosed with stomach cancers.
The analysis found that the consumption of three or more alcoholic beverages every day increased the risk of stomach cancer. The data also showed that every 1.8 ounces of processed meat consumed every day lead to an 18 percent increase in risk of cancer in the lower stomach. The report also attributed a 23 percent increased risk of upper stomach cancer for every five-unit increase in Body Mass Index.
Alice Bender, head of nutrition programs at AICR, said, "This report is a real wake-up call. Obesity is now linked to eleven types of cancer and we want Americans to know there are steps everyone can take for cancer prevention and better health, like eating more vegetables, beans, fruits and other plant foods along with squeezing in a few more steps every day."