New Visions

According to a recent study published in Lancet, taller women run a greater risk of developing one of 10 different cancers than shorter women.
The study was being carried on for several years on 1.3 million middle-aged women in the United Kingdom. The results found that every 4 inches or 10 centimeters increase in height increased the risk of cancer by 16%.
Jane Green, a clinical epidemiologist at Oxford University and the lead researcher observed that, the tallest group – women 5 feet 9 or taller – were 37% more prone to develop cancer than the shortest group – women 5 feet and shorter. This is a studied fact regardless of internal or external factors like age, socio-economic status, body mass index and physical activity of the individual.
Though the study did not involve any specific investigation so as to determine what specifically led to the role of height in the increase of cancer risks, they believe that there are several theories that warrant more investigation. The author proposes that “taller people have more cells, and thus a greater opportunity for mutations leading to malignant transformation”.
The types of cancer increased by height are colon, malignant melanoma, endometrial, kidney, central nervous system, non-Hodgkin lymphoma and leukemia.
Another possible culprit may be hormone levels that result from insulin-like growth factors both in childhood and in adult life. Researchers in Ecuador have found that the factors that cause limit in height growth also are at working to reduce the risk of cancer and diabetes.
However, experts at the American Cancer Society have assured that tall people need not be alarmed because of these studies.
“The underlying biological reason for the slightly higher risk among taller people is not known,” explains Eric Jacobs, strategic director of pharmacoepidemiology. “Nobody will be trying to make themselves shorter to lower their cancer risk, and the current results do not mean tall people need additional cancer screening,” Jacobs explains.