A recent study published in the journal Cancer Communications revealed that obesity may be responsible for more than 11% of cancer cases, nearly double the percentage previously estimated.
The research team based their study on an analysis of data from 458,543 individuals from the UK Biobank project, whose health was monitored for 12 years. During this period, approximately 50,000 cases of various types of cancer were recorded among the participants.
Unlike previous studies, the researchers did not limit their assessment to the body mass index alone, but the analysis also included measuring 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 account for an important factor: many cancers can cause unintentional weight loss years before diagnosis, which may have led previous studies to underestimate the apparent link between obesity and cancer. After accounting for these factors, the percentage of cancers associated with excess weight increased from 5.5% to 11.5%.
The researchers noted that the link between increased body fat and cancer risk was more pronounced in women and people under 60 years of age.
The researchers emphasized that these findings suggest that preventing and treating obesity may be even more important than previously thought in reducing the risk of cancer.
A recent scientific study published in the Journal of the Therapeutic Service (JTO) also showed that abdominal fat accumulation may increase the risk of lung cancer through a mechanism that weakens the body's natural immune system. A separate study published in the Journal of Clinical Investigation revealed that obesity may increase the risk of developing leukemia and contribute to its progression.
