Abstract
Excess body fatness has been associated with various health outcomes including premature
mortality, cardiovascular disease, type 2 diabetes, and various types of cancer. Recent
expert panels have reviewed the scientific evidence relating excess body fatness with
risk of specific cancer types. This evidence includes intervention trials, cohort
and case-control studies, experimental animal studies, and mechanistic studies. To
date, these consensus panels have concluded that 13 cancers have sufficient evidence
and biologic plausibility linking excess body fatness as a cause of cancer of the
esophagus (adenocarcinoma), gastric cardia, colon and rectum, liver, gallbladder,
pancreas, meningioma, postmenopausal breast, endometrium, ovary, kidney, thyroid,
and multiple myeloma. This article reviews the findings of these consensus reports
along with additional considerations in better understanding the relationship between
excess body fatness and cancer risk. Given that cancers linked to excess body fatness
account for approximately 40% of all cancers, and approximately 70% of U.S. adults
have overweight or obesity, it is critical to promote the maintenance of a healthy
body weight throughout life for cancer prevention.
Keywords
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Article info
Publication history
Published online: February 07, 2023
Accepted:
January 29,
2023
Received:
January 25,
2023
Publication stage
In Press Journal Pre-ProofIdentification
Copyright
© 2023 American Society for Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
