Scientists have estimated that in the European Union, 21, 000 cases of colon cancer and 13, 000 cases of breast cancer could be avoided annually by people maintaining a normal body weight.

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He believes the best way for women in this age-group to keep their bones strong is to keep their body weight within normal levels and make sure they are exercising regularly.

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The study, by a joint team from the US National Jewish Medical and Research Center and University of Colorado, classed normal weight as someone with a body mass index below 25, overweight over 25 but below 30, and obese as 30 and above.

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Body Mass Index (BMI) is defined as the ratio of weight (in kg) to height (in meters) squared and is an inexact measure of body fat, though it supposedly establishes cutoff points of normal weight, overweight, and obesity.

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Gaining too much weight is a major contributor to Type 2 diabetes, since excess fat cells can affect the way the body breaks down glucose and produces insulin, but some normal weight individuals can develop the disease as well.

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In the tests, 0.15 units per kilogram of body weight produced the same response as 0.5 units of normal insulin.

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