Obesity is a major preventable cause of cancer
Major studies confirm that being overweight or obese increases the risk of various cancers. The World Health Organisation (WHO) says that overweight and obesity are the most important known avoidable causes of cancer after tobacco.
Researchers estimate that overweight and obesity are behind around 17,000 cases of cancer each year in the UK. This number may well increase in the future since the number of people who are overweight is increasing.
The latest statistics for England show that the proportion of adults with a healthy BMI decreased, and around a quarter of adults are obese, and the figures are similar in the other UK nations.
Researchers estimate that overweight and obesity are behind around 17,000 cases of cancer each year in the UK. This number may well increase in the future since the number of people who are overweight is increasing.
The latest statistics for England show that the proportion of adults with a healthy BMI decreased, and around a quarter of adults are obese, and the figures are similar in the other UK nations.
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Obesity increases the risk of breast cancer in women after menopause
Scientists have estimated that anywhere between 7% and 15% of breast cancer cases in developed countries are caused by obesity. Over a hundred studies show that women who are overweight or obese and have been through the menopause have higher breast cancer risks.
Two large studies funded by Cancer Research UK - the EPIC study and the Million Women Study - have found that obese women have a 30% higher risk of postmenopausal breast cancer than women with a healthy weight.
Obesity does not increase the risk of breast cancer in women before their menopause. Putting on weight over time can also increase the risk of breast cancer. Studies have found that:
• putting on 2-10 kg (4.4 - 22 lb) after the age of 50 increases the risk of breast cancer by 30%.
• putting on 25 kg (55 lb) after the age of 18 increases the risk of breast cancer by 45%.
Two large studies funded by Cancer Research UK - the EPIC study and the Million Women Study - have found that obese women have a 30% higher risk of postmenopausal breast cancer than women with a healthy weight.
Obesity does not increase the risk of breast cancer in women before their menopause. Putting on weight over time can also increase the risk of breast cancer. Studies have found that:
• putting on 2-10 kg (4.4 - 22 lb) after the age of 50 increases the risk of breast cancer by 30%.
• putting on 25 kg (55 lb) after the age of 18 increases the risk of breast cancer by 45%.
Obesity increases the risk of bowel cancer
Obesity is one of the most important causes of bowel cancer. Some groups have estimated that being overweight or obese causes about 11-14% of bowel cancer cases.
Many large studies have found that bowel cancer is more common in overweight or obese people. Two of the largest studies so far, including the EPIC study, have found that obese men have about 50% higher risks of bowel cancer than those with a healthy weight.
When BMI is used to measure body fat, studies tend to find that only obese men have a higher risk of bowel cancer. But when researchers use waist circumferences or waist-to-hip ratios, both obese men and women have higher risks of bowel cancer. This suggests that, for women at least, fat around the stomach is more of a problem than fat elsewhere on the body.
Many large studies have found that bowel cancer is more common in overweight or obese people. Two of the largest studies so far, including the EPIC study, have found that obese men have about 50% higher risks of bowel cancer than those with a healthy weight.
When BMI is used to measure body fat, studies tend to find that only obese men have a higher risk of bowel cancer. But when researchers use waist circumferences or waist-to-hip ratios, both obese men and women have higher risks of bowel cancer. This suggests that, for women at least, fat around the stomach is more of a problem than fat elsewhere on the body.
Obesity increases the risk of womb cancer
A large body weight is one of the most important causes of womb cancer. A 2011 study estimated that more than a third of womb cancers in the UK are caused by being overweight or obese.
Studies have consistently found that obese people are two to three times more likely to develop womb cancer than people with a healthy bodyweight.
Studies have consistently found that obese people are two to three times more likely to develop womb cancer than people with a healthy bodyweight.
Obesity increases the risk of oesophageal cancer
Being overweight or obese increases the risk of a type of oesophageal cancer (cancer of the foodpipe) called “oesophageal adenocarcinoma”.
Overweight people are over 80% more likely to develop this cancer than people of a healthy weight, and the risk in obese people is even more.
Experts have estimated that in the UK it causes about 1 in 5 cases of this type of cancer. In fact, the rates of oesophageal adenocarcinoma in the UK are among the highest in the world, especially in men. Some studies have suggested that, in Western countries, this type of cancer may be becoming more common because of rising levels of obesity.
Overweight people are over 80% more likely to develop this cancer than people of a healthy weight, and the risk in obese people is even more.
Experts have estimated that in the UK it causes about 1 in 5 cases of this type of cancer. In fact, the rates of oesophageal adenocarcinoma in the UK are among the highest in the world, especially in men. Some studies have suggested that, in Western countries, this type of cancer may be becoming more common because of rising levels of obesity.
Obesity increases the risk of gastric cardia cancer
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The gastric cardia is the part of the stomach that is connected to the oesophagus. Cancer of this part of the stomach has become more common in developed countries, and scientists think that this is closely linked to obesity. This cancer can sometimes be referred to as cancer of the oesophagogastric junction or gastroesophageal junction.
As with oesophageal cancer, more than 1 in 5 cases of this cancer may be caused overweight or obesity, and the risk is higher for those who also smoke. The risk of gastric cardia cancer is nearly doubled in obese people compared to those of a healthy weight.
As with oesophageal cancer, more than 1 in 5 cases of this cancer may be caused overweight or obesity, and the risk is higher for those who also smoke. The risk of gastric cardia cancer is nearly doubled in obese people compared to those of a healthy weight.
Obesity increases the risk of pancreatic cancer
Higher BMI and fat around the belly are both linked to a 10-14% increased risk of pancreatic cancer in men and women. We don’t have clear evidence about exactly why this is, but it may be linked to some of the changes in hormone levels that are caused by obesity.
The risk increases with higher BMI, and it is estimated that around one out of ten pancreatic cancers may be caused by being overweight or obese. Those who are overweight when they are younger and gain more weight as they get older are at around 50% higher risk than those who keep a healthy weight from the age of 18.
The risk increases with higher BMI, and it is estimated that around one out of ten pancreatic cancers may be caused by being overweight or obese. Those who are overweight when they are younger and gain more weight as they get older are at around 50% higher risk than those who keep a healthy weight from the age of 18.
Obesity increases the risk of kidney cancer
Studies have estimated that having a high body weight accounts for nearly a quarter of kidney cancers. And many studies have consistently shown that higher BMI is linked to an increased risk of kidney cancer. The most recent study into the size of the risk showed that higher BMI increases the risk of kidney cancer by 31%.
Obesity increases the risk of gallbladder cancer
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Obesity is known to cause formation of gallstones, which can increase the risk of cancer of the gallbladder. And the hormonal changes that result from having more body fat can also increase the risk of gallbladder cancer.
It is estimated that nearly a fifth of gallbladder cancers result from people being overweight or obese. Compared to men, more than double the number of cases in women seem to be linked to excess body weight.
It is estimated that nearly a fifth of gallbladder cancers result from people being overweight or obese. Compared to men, more than double the number of cases in women seem to be linked to excess body weight.
Obesity increases risk of many other types of cancer
There is some evidence that being overweight or obese could increase the risk of many other types of cancer, including:
- brain cancer
- leukaemia
- liver cancer
- multiple myeloma
- non-Hodgkin lymphoma
- ovarian cancer, before the menopause
- aggressive prostate cancer
- thyroid cancer
But the evidence for a link with these other cancer types is not strong enough to know for sure if there is a link.
Too much belly fat could increase the risk of cancer
The way that fat is distributed around the body can also affect the risk of cancer. ‘Apple-shaped’ people who put on weight around their stomach may have higher risks than ‘pear-shaped’ people who put on weight around their hips.
Scientists measure belly fat using either waist circumference (the length of tape that goes around your waist) or waist-to-hip ratio (how wide your waist is compared to your hips). Studies have found that people with larger waists or waist-to-hip ratios have higher risks of breast cancer, bowel cancer in men and women, kidney cancer, and pancreatic cancer.
Scientists measure belly fat using either waist circumference (the length of tape that goes around your waist) or waist-to-hip ratio (how wide your waist is compared to your hips). Studies have found that people with larger waists or waist-to-hip ratios have higher risks of breast cancer, bowel cancer in men and women, kidney cancer, and pancreatic cancer.
Obesity may increase cancer risk by changing hormone levels
Obesity most likely increases the risk of cancer by raising levels of hormones such as oestrogen and insulin.
In early life, oestrogen is mainly produced by a woman’s ovaries, but this stops after menopause. Instead, fat in the body becomes the main source of oestrogen and obese women have up to twice as much oestrogen as women with a healthy weight. They also have lower levels of SHBG, or ‘sex hormone binding globulin’, which mops up oestrogen in the body. This is almost certainly why obesity increases the risk of breast and womb cancers.
Obesity also increases levels of insulin in the body. It’s not clear how this could lead to cancer, although high insulin levels are a common feature of many cancers. High insulin levels could explain why being obese increases the risk of liver, womb, bowel, kidney and pancreatic cancer.
Obesity could also cause cancer through other means, including:
In early life, oestrogen is mainly produced by a woman’s ovaries, but this stops after menopause. Instead, fat in the body becomes the main source of oestrogen and obese women have up to twice as much oestrogen as women with a healthy weight. They also have lower levels of SHBG, or ‘sex hormone binding globulin’, which mops up oestrogen in the body. This is almost certainly why obesity increases the risk of breast and womb cancers.
Obesity also increases levels of insulin in the body. It’s not clear how this could lead to cancer, although high insulin levels are a common feature of many cancers. High insulin levels could explain why being obese increases the risk of liver, womb, bowel, kidney and pancreatic cancer.
Obesity could also cause cancer through other means, including:
- increasing the risk of oesophageal and gastric cardia cancers by causing ‘gastric acid reflux’, a condition where the stomach’s acids are briefly pushed back into the throat. This damages the lining of the oesophagus and the area where it connects to the stomach.
- increasing the risk of gallstones, which in turn increase the risk of gallbladder cancer.
- being associated with physical inactivity or unhealthy diets.
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