Study: Obesity 'bigger cancer risk' than previously thought

A new study by researchers at the German Cancer Research Center has found that being overweight or obese significantly increases the risk of developing various types of cancer, including colon, breast, and liver cancer. Previously, it was believed that 2% to 8% of cancer cases were attributable to excess body weight, but the new study suggests that this number is likely much higher, reaching up to 11.5%.

The study's lead author, Hermann Brenner, an epidemiologist, stated that the previous research methods underestimated the link between weight and cancer, as they only used body mass index (BMI), which does not differentiate between fat and muscle mass or the distribution of fat in the body. Brenner's team focused on waist circumference and waist-to-hip ratio, which are more indicative of excess abdominal fat.

This type of fat triggers a chronic inflammatory metabolic state that releases signaling molecules, known as adipokines, which can influence cell growth and division, ultimately contributing to tumor development. The study analyzed data from 458,543 participants in the UK Biobank over an average of 12 years, during which 50,000 new cancer cases were identified.

By excluding the first few years following participants' enrollment, the researchers made the link between obesity and cancer clearer. While the study suggests that overweight women may have a higher risk of developing cancer, further research is needed to confirm these findings. Brenner emphasized that by preventing obesity, we could make a greater contribution to cancer prevention than previously assumed, offering hope for improved cancer prevention strategies.