Excess Body Weight Contributes to 3.9% of Cancers

A study published in CA: A Cancer Journal for Clinicians found that in 2012, excess body weight accounted for approximately 3.9% of all cancers worldwide (n=544,300), ranging from 1% in low-income countries to 7% to 8% in high-income Western, Middle Eastern, and North African countries.

Researchers used publicly available or published parameters and estimates to show regional and global trends of obesity and overweight between 1975 and 2016. During this time, the prevalence of excess body weight in adults (defined as a body mass index (BMI) of ≥25 kg/m²) increased from nearly 21% in men and 24% in women to approximately 40% for both. In addition, the obesity prevalence (defined as a BMI of ≥30 kg/m²) increased from 3% to 12% in men and from 7% to 16% in women.

Half a million cases of #cancer annually attributable to obesity: Global patterns in excess body weight and the associated cancer burden – Sung – – CA: A Cancer Journal for @ASCO nttps://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.3322/caac.21499#.XBJkOq202OQ.twitter

— Tina J Hieken MD (@TJH0828) December 13, 2018

The three countries with the highest proportions of cancer related to excess body fat were Egypt (8.2%), Mongolia (8.0%), and Puerto Rico (7.7%). Countries with proportions of 1% or less were India, Uganda, and Malawi.

Excess body weight responsible for nearly 4 percent of cancers worldwide #health #nutrition https://t.co/IVY1MwnM4F

— Sean Hashmi, M.D. (@SeanHashmiMD) December 13, 2018

The report also indicated that there is a causal association between body fatness and the risk of 13 cancers, including postmenopausal breast, colon and rectum, endometrium, adenocarcinoma, gallbladder, kidney, liver, meningioma, multiple myeloma, ovary, pancreas, cardia, and thyroid.

The simultaneous rise in excess body weight in almost all countries is thought to be driven largely by changes in the global food system, which promotes energy‐dense, nutrient‐poor foods, coupled with reduced physical activity.

Excess body weight linked to cancer – this is no surprise. But a healthy body weight is just one factor in overall healthiness and #wellness. https://t.co/x1DtcnccfG

— Dr. Karen Horton (@drkarenhorton) December 13, 2018

The researchers said that this trend is likely to increase in the future. “The rapid increase in both the prevalence of excess body weight and the associated cancer burden highlights the need for a rejuvenated focus on identifying, implementing, and evaluating interventions to prevent and control excess body weight,” the authors concluded.

Obesity is now linked to 12 cancer types.

As obesity increases in the U.S., so do cancer diagnoses in young adults.

Source: CA: A Cancer Journal for Clinicians