Study: Obesity 'bigger cancer risk' than previously thought
A new study has found that being significantly overweight could be responsible for more cases of cancer than previously known. Abdominal fat, in particular, increases the risk of cancer — especially among women.
A recent study has revealed that being overweight or obese significantly raises the risk of developing various types of cancer, including colon, breast, and liver cancer. Researchers from the German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ) suggest that up to 11.5% of all cancer cases may be linked to excess body weight, far surpassing the previously estimated 2% to 8%.
This new research, led by Hermann Brenner, an epidemiologist at DKFZ, challenges the notion that the connection between obesity and cancer was previously underestimated. The team employed more precise methods by considering waist circumference and waist-to-hip ratio, in addition to body mass index (BMI), to better assess excess weight and its impact on cancer risk.
Previous studies primarily relied on BMI, which does not differentiate between fat and muscle mass or account for fat distribution. Excess abdominal fat, which accumulates in women, releases adipokines that trigger chronic inflammation and metabolic processes, potentially leading to tumor growth. The study analyzed data from 458,543 participants in the UK Biobank, following them for an average of 12 years and identifying 50,000 new cancer cases.
The researchers excluded the initial years after participants joined the study to minimize potential bias from weight loss due to cancer development. The findings indicate that women are more likely to develop cancer from being overweight, particularly breast, uterine, and ovarian cancers, which are hormone-dependent. Hormones like estrogen can promote breast cancer growth, and excess abdominal fat may contribute to higher estrogen levels.
The study's lead author, Michael Leitzmann, emphasizes the importance of preventing obesity in cancer prevention, while also highlighting the benefits of weight loss in reducing risks of cardiovascular diseases and Type 2 diabetes.
Written by urgent.news from DW English (Top Stories)'s reporting — not their text. Machine-written — it may contain errors, so check the original before relying on it.
