Obesity and Cancer Risk: Recent Review and Evidence
Open accessAbstract
The prevalence of overweight and obesity is increasing worldwide, and the evidence base for a link between obesity and cancer is growing. In the United States, approximately 85,000 new cancer cases per year are related to obesity. Recent research has found that as the body mass index increases by 5 kg/m2, cancer mortality increases by 10%. Additionally, studies of patients who have had bariatric surgery for weight loss report reductions in cancer incidence and mortality, particularly for women. The goal of this review is to provide an update of recent research, with a focus on epidemiologic studies on the link between obesity and cancer. In addition, we will briefly review hypothesized mechanisms underlying the relationship between obesity and cancer. High priorities for future research involve additional work on the underlying mechanisms, and trials to examine the effect of lifestyle behavior change and weight loss interventions on cancer and intermediate biomarkers.
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- Authors
- Basen-Engquist, K., & Chang, M.
- Affiliations
- The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center (US)
- Corresponding author
- Basen-Engquist, Karen
- Venue
- Current Oncology Reports
- Published
- 2010-11-16
- Volume
- 13
- Issue
- 1
- Pages
- 71-76
- ISSN
- 1523-3790 (ISSN-L)
- 1534-6269
- PMC
- PMC3786180
- OpenAlex
- W2002699471
- Cited by
- 439
- References
- 37
- Citations by year
- 2026: 14 · 2025: 11 · 2024: 12 · 2023: 20 · 2022: 25 · 2021: 50 · 2020: 41 · 2019: 51 · 2018: 38 · 2017: 25 · 2016: 24 · 2015: 35 · 2014: 27 · 2013: 31 · 2012: 24
- FWCI
- 2.27
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- green
- www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov
- Licence
- www.springer.com/tdm (tdm)
- Locations
- Current Oncology Reports (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- Europe PMC (PubMed Central) (acceptedVersion)
- PubMed Central (acceptedVersion)
- Funders
- National Cancer Institute (R25E-CA56452, R25CA056452)
- Topics
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Oncology › Cancer Risks and Factors
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Public Health, Environmental and Occupational Health › Obesity, Physical Activity, Diet
- Health Sciences › Health Professions › Pharmacy › Obesity and Health Practices
- Keywords
- obesity, cancer risk, cancer mortality, body mass index, bariatric surgery, weight loss, cancer incidence, obesity epidemiology, lifestyle intervention, biomarkers
- MeSH terms
- Animals, Female, Humans, Life Style, Neoplasms, Obesity, Risk Factors, United States, Body Mass Index
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