MAASTRICHT, Netherlands, Nov 02, 2004 (United Press International via COMTEX) - Greater height and obesity and lower levels of physical activity are all associated with an increased risk of endometrial cancer, a Dutch study found.

Dr. Leo Schouten, of Maastricht University, in Maastricht, the Netherlands, examined data from more than 62,000 women in The Netherlands Cohort Study on Diet and Cancer.

He found women 5 feet 9 inches or taller had an increased risk of endometrial cancer compared with women less than 5 feet 3 inches in height. Women with a body mass index of 30 or greater had a higher risk compared with women with a BMI between 20 and 22.9. BMI at age 20 and BMI gain since age 20 were also associated with endometrial cancer risk.

In addition, women who spent 90 minutes or more each day doing physical activities had a lower risk of the cancer than women who spent less than 30 minutes each day doing physical activities, the researchers found