Study suggests losing weight is associated with a lower risk of cancer in people with Obesity

San Francisco: Real-world weight loss is linked with a decreased risk of obesity-related cancers, according to a new study published in the journal of the American Diabetes Association. The study involved 172 patients, including 100,143 in the control arm and 5,329 cases. Participants had a median BMI of 34.2 for cases and 34.5 for controls, indicating obesity per CDC standards.

The study assessed BMI changes over three, five, and ten years before cancer diagnosis using logistic regression models. The primary endpoint identified 13 obesity-related cancers, while the secondary endpoint included 16 other types, such as melanoma, urinary tract cancers, and cancers of the hematopoietic, lymphoid, respiratory, intrathoracic, genital, eye, brain, central nervous system, and digestive organs.

Results showed that weight loss reduced the risk of obesity-related cancers at three years (OR 0.99, 95% CI [0.984, 0.996]) and five years (OR 0.989, 95% CI [0.983-0.995]), and reduced the risk for other cancer types across all time intervals (ORs < 1, P < 0.001). Specifically, the risk was lower for renal cell carcinoma at three years, multiple myeloma at ten years, and endometrial cancer at three and five years (P < 0.05).

Dr. Kenda Alkwatli, Clinical Fellow at Cleveland Clinic and study author, emphasized the importance of treating obesity as a chronic disease to manage comorbidities like cancer. The study highlights the need for further research to determine how the amount, rate, and method of weight loss affect cancer risk and whether specific anti-obesity medications can reduce this risk.

Obesity increases the risk of at least 13 types of cancer, including breast, kidney, ovary, liver, and pancreatic cancers, due to excess estrogen and elevated insulin levels. These findings suggest that effective weight management could play a crucial role in cancer prevention strategies, providing a compelling case for integrating comprehensive weight loss programs into clinical practice guidelines worldwide.