Nearly Half of Cancer Cases Share a Common Factor
A new study has discovered a commonality among 40% of cancer cases, according to the Telegraph.
The research, led by Lund University in Malmö, Sweden, involved 4.1 million participants. These individuals were closely monitored for their weight and lifestyle over a span of approximately 40 years. During this period, 332,500 cancer cases were identified.
Ultimately, scientists found that 40% of cancer cases are linked to obesity.
In total, researchers identified 32 types of cancer associated with obesity.
Scientists found that 40% of cancer cases are linked to obesity.
Previous research had identified 13 types of cancer related to being overweight or obese, including colorectal cancer, breast cancer, uterine cancer, and kidney cancer. The new study indicates that an increase of 5 points in the Body Mass Index (BMI) raises the risk of these cancers by 24% for men and 12% for women.
An increase of 5 BMI points is also linked to 19 other cancer types, with a 17% increased risk for men and 13% for women. These cancers include melanoma, stomach cancer, small intestine cancer, and pituitary cancer, as well as various head and neck cancers, vulvar cancer, and penile cancer.
Urgent Warning from Researchers
Given the data, researchers urgently warn: “The findings of this study have significant implications for public health. Obesity-related cancers account for 25% of all cancer cases in this research. This percentage increases to 40% when considering cancers that may be linked to obesity. Therefore, a significant proportion of cancer cases could be prevented by maintaining a healthy weight.”
The lead researcher, Dr. Ming Sun from Lund University, stated: “Our findings suggest that the impact of obesity on cancer may be greater than previously understood, as it is a risk factor for numerous cancers, particularly many rarer types. Some cancers have rarely or never been studied in relation to obesity.”
He emphasized the need for further research to uncover new findings and investigate the underlying biological mechanisms.
However, Dr. Sun noted that public health measures aimed at lifestyle reform are “essential to address the obesity epidemic and its known adverse effects on health outcomes.”
Maintaining a healthy weight can help prevent cancer.
Experts stated that these findings will be presented at the European Obesity Conference in Venice. They describe this research as “groundbreaking,” highlighting a “ticking time bomb” ahead.
Professor Jason Halford, president of the European Association for the Study of Obesity (EASO), remarked: “This is a truly robust, large-scale analysis. As always, more research is needed, but this study reveals what many other studies have suspected; that obesity may be a risk factor for more types of cancer than previously recognized.”
Professor Halford, who heads the School of Psychology at the University of Leeds, UK, criticized UK policymakers for having “clearly failed” to implement strong public measures to prevent obesity while limiting treatment options.
He stated: “If this does not raise concern among health policymakers, it is difficult to know what will.”
In the UK, obesity rates have nearly doubled since the 1990s, with 26% of adults now classified as obese and 38% as overweight.
Obesity has surpassed smoking as the leading cause of four high-incidence cancers.
Forecasts from Cancer Research UK suggest that around 8,000 cancer cases in the UK could be preventable by 2040 if 10% of those overweight and obese reduce their BMI by 1 point by 2030.
Victoria Atkins, the UK Health Minister, stated that the UK Government is taking “strong action” to address obesity, with initiatives using apps and technology to improve lifestyle set to launch this summer.
Ms. Atkins said: “I want us all to live longer, healthier lives. It starts with preventing illness through healthy lifestyle choices such as eating well, exercising regularly, and not smoking.”
“We have implemented regulations to protect future generations from the harms of smoking to minimize diseases like cancer, and we are also taking strong action to tackle obesity.”
