Obesity and gastrointestinal cancers: Epidemiology

Abstract

There is strong and consistent evidence for associations between obesity and multiple gastrointestinal (GI) cancers. The most consistent and compelling evidence exists for the association between obesity and colon cancer; however, there is emerging evidence for associations between obesity and esophageal adenocarcinoma and, pancreatic and liver cancers. The number of studies evaluating obesity and gastric and gallbladder cancers is limited and results, thus far, have been inconsistent. In this chapter, the epidemiological evidence linking obesity to the development and survival of GI cancers is reviewed. Because obesity plays an integral role in manifestation of the Metabolic Syndrome (MetSyn), epidemiological evidence for associations between MetSyn and GI cancers is also summarized. Other environmental and genetic risk factors for GI cancers and the putative mechanisms linking obesity, MetSyn, and GI cancers are discussed in subsequent chapters of this book.