A recent study published in Cancer Communications revealed that obesity may be responsible for more than 11% of cancer cases, nearly double the previously estimated rate.
The research team relied on the analysis of data from 458,543 individuals from the UK Biobank, where their health status was monitored for 12 years. During this period, around 50,000 cases of various types of cancer were recorded among the participants.
Unlike previous studies, the researchers did not limit their evaluation to just body mass index; the analysis also included waist circumference and waist-to-hip ratio, which are indicators that more accurately reflect the amount of fat accumulated in the body.
The team also adjusted the statistical analysis to take into account an important factor: many cancerous tumors may cause unintentional weight loss years before the disease is diagnosed, which may have led previous studies to underestimate the strength of the apparent relationship between obesity and cancer. After considering these factors, the proportion of cancer cases linked to overweight increased from 5.5% to 11.5%.
The researchers noted that the relationship between increased body fat and the risk of cancer was more pronounced in women and individuals under 60 years of age.
The study leaders emphasized that these findings suggest that preventing and treating obesity may be more important than previously thought in reducing the risk of cancer.
A recent scientific study published in JTO also showed that fat accumulation in the abdominal area may increase the risk of lung cancer through a mechanism that weakens the body's natural immune system. Moreover, a study published in the Journal of Clinical Investigation revealed that obesity may increase the risk of leukemia and contribute to its development.