Study suggests gaining weight increases cancer risk

A new study of nearly 600,000 people has found that every five-point increase in BMI is linked to an 11 per cent higher risk of obesity-related cancer, even in people without type 2 diabetes or cardiovascular disease.

Carrying additional weight can cause inflammation in the body or an excess of the hormone insulin, which may help tumours to grow.

Dr Heinz Freisling, senior author of the study from the International Agency for Research on Cancer, said “We have often talked about people who are overweight but metabolically healthy, meaning they don’t have type 2 diabetes or cardiovascular disease.

“But this study shows these people still have a higher risk of cancer, so may want to maintain a healthy weight.  However their risk goes higher if they also have cardiovascular disease.”

The study focussed on 13 obesity-related cancers, including breast cancer in post-menopausal women only, womb and ovarian cancer, which can be fuelled by hormones produced by fat in the body when people are overweight, pancreatic, kidney, bowel and gullet cancer.

The risk of getting these cancers was 11 per cent higher for every five-point increase in BMI, but 17 per cent higher in people with cardiovascular disease.

Dr Helen Croker of the World Cancer Research Fund, which funded the study, said “We already know that obesity is an important risk factor for cancer, but these striking findings show that the risk differs depending on whether people also have cardiovascular disease.

“Therefore, maintaining a healthy weight can offer even greater benefits for particular groups.”

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Posted by Karen Motley, Clinical Negligence Department, Chadwick Lawrence LLP (jacquelinevance@chadlaw.co.uk), medical negligence lawyers and clinical negligence solicitors in Huddersfield, Leeds, Wakefield and Halifax, West Yorkshire.

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