A “pioneering” study finds that being overweight or obese puts you at risk for five more malignancies than previously assumed.
People aged 18 to 40 who are overweight are more likely to develop 18 different forms of the lethal disease, according to World Health Organisation researchers.
They studied the BMI status of over 2.6 million people over the course of their lives to determine how it changed their risk.
They discovered novel diseases connected to weight, including leukaemia, non-Hodgkin lymphoma, and head and neck and bladder cancers in persons who had never smoked.
Dr. Heinz Freisling of the WHO’s International Agency for Research on Cancer, who co-led the study, said doctors should be aware of the increased risk of cancer in obese persons.
He said: “The results of our study support a re-evaluation of the cancer burden associated with overweight and obesity, which currently is likely underestimated.”
Around 38% of adults in England are overweight, with another 26% obese.
Experts predict that approximately 3 million Britons are presently living with cancer, with the figure expected to rise to 5.3 million by 2040.
The WHO previously linked being overweight or obese to at least 13 different cancers:
- The brain and the rest of the central nervous system
- Thyroid
- Oesophagus
- Breast
- Liver
- Stomach
- Kidney
- Gallbladder
- Pancreas
- Bowel
- Ovary
- Uterus
- Myeloma
The study, published in Nature Communications, examined health records from 2009 to 2018 in Catalonia, Spain.
There were no cancer cases at the start of the trial, but 225,396 were diagnosed by the conclusion.
Overweight or obese people were shown to be more likely to develop 18 malignancies, including the five newly discovered ones.
“These compelling results support the implementation of primary care-based cancer prevention strategies,” said Dr Talita Duarte-Sallés of the Institut d’investigació en Atenció Primària de Salut Jordi Gol.
“These should have a strong focus on preventing and reducing early overweight and obesity.
“This pioneering research marks a significant milestone in understanding the intricate relationship between overweight/obesity and cancer risk.
“With these findings, the global community has a powerful new tool to shape targeted interventions, develop effective prevention strategies, and ultimately make a significant impact on cancer outcomes worldwide.”
Dr Panagiota Mitrou, of the World Cancer Research Fund, said: “This large study has future public health implications since additional cancers, such as leukaemia and non-Hodgkin lymphoma, have been shown to be linked with overweight and obesity.
“Our own evidence shows that maintaining a healthy weight throughout life is one of the most important things people can do to reduce their cancer risk, and early prevention in adulthood is key.”