Photo AI
Cancer Research UK found that many people do not realise that obesity is linked to an increased risk of developing cancer - Edexcel - GCSE Biology Combined Science - Question 6 - 2020 - Paper 1
Question 6
Cancer Research UK found that many people do not realise that obesity is linked to an increased risk of developing cancer. In the body, fat tissue sends signals tha... show full transcript
Worked Solution & Example Answer:Cancer Research UK found that many people do not realise that obesity is linked to an increased risk of developing cancer - Edexcel - GCSE Biology Combined Science - Question 6 - 2020 - Paper 1
Step 1
Describe how this could cause cancer to develop.
Answer
Obesity can lead to cancer development through several mechanisms. First, fat cells (adipocytes) produce hormones, including estrogen, which can promote the growth of cancer cells in hormone-sensitive tissues. Elevated levels of insulin and insulin-like growth factors due to obesity also stimulate cell division, increasing the likelihood of mutations during this process. Furthermore, excess fat is associated with chronic low-grade inflammation in the body, which may create an environment conducive to cancer development by damaging DNA and promoting tumor growth.
Step 3
Determine how the impact of obesity on bowel cancer compares to the impact of obesity on all types of cancer.
Answer
Obesity is associated with an increased risk of various types of cancer, with bowel cancer showing a significant correlation of approximately 13%. When considering that obesity is linked to 1 in 20 cases of all types of cancer, we can see that while bowel cancer has a specific percentage, its overall impact is one of several types of cancers influenced by obesity. This suggests that while the association is strong for bowel cancer, the risk extends across multiple cancer types, indicating a widespread health concern related to obesity.