Obesity and cancer

291Citations
Citations of this article
202Readers
Mendeley users who have this article in their library.

Abstract

The prevalence of obesity, defined as a BMI of ≥30.0 kg/m2, has increased substantially over previous decades to about 20% in industrialized countries, and a further increase is expected in the future. Epidemiological studies have shown that obesity is a risk factor for: post-menopausal breast cancer; cancers of the endometrium, colon and kidney; malignant adenomas of the oesophagus. Obese subjects have an approximately 1.5-3.5-fold increased risk of developing these cancers compared with normal-weight subjects, and it has been estimated that between 15 and 45% of these cancers can be attributed to overweight (BMI 25.0-29.9 kg/m2) and obesity in Europe. More recent studies suggest that obesity may also increase the risk of other types of cancer, including pancreatic, hepatic and gallbladder cancer. The underlying mechanisms for the increased cancer risk as a result of obesity are unclear and may vary by cancer site and also depend on the distribution of body fat. Thus, abdominal obesity as defined by waist circumference or waist:hip ratio has been shown to be more strongly related to certain cancer types than obesity as defined by BMI. Possible mechanisms that relate obesity to cancer risk include insulin resistance and resultant chronic hyperinsulinaemia, increased production of insulin-like growth factors or increased bioavailability of steroid hormones. Recent research also suggests that adipose tissue-derived hormones and cytokines (adipokines), such as leptin, adiponectin and inflammatory markers, may reflect mechanisms linked to tumourigenesis. © 2008 The Authors.

References Powered by Scopus

Prevalence of overweight and obesity in the United States, 1999-2004

7539Citations
N/AReaders
Get full text

The metabolic syndrome

5501Citations
N/AReaders
Get full text

Obesity

3893Citations
N/AReaders
Get full text

Cited by Powered by Scopus

Pathophysiology of human visceral obesity: An update

1847Citations
N/AReaders
Get full text

Diet, microorganisms and their metabolites, and colon cancer

837Citations
N/AReaders
Get full text

Obesity, Oxidative Stress, Adipose Tissue Dysfunction, and the Associated Health Risks: Causes and Therapeutic Strategies

796Citations
N/AReaders
Get full text

Register to see more suggestions

Mendeley helps you to discover research relevant for your work.

Already have an account?

Cite

CITATION STYLE

APA

Pischon, T., Nöthlings, U., & Boeing, H. (2008). Obesity and cancer. In Proceedings of the Nutrition Society (Vol. 67, pp. 128–145). https://doi.org/10.1017/S0029665108006976

Readers' Seniority

Tooltip

PhD / Post grad / Masters / Doc 82

70%

Researcher 21

18%

Professor / Associate Prof. 11

9%

Lecturer / Post doc 3

3%

Readers' Discipline

Tooltip

Medicine and Dentistry 48

44%

Agricultural and Biological Sciences 32

29%

Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Bi... 16

15%

Nursing and Health Professions 14

13%

Save time finding and organizing research with Mendeley

Sign up for free