Daijiworld Media Network- Washington
Washington, Aug 6: While the overall cancer death rate in the United States is on a decline, a concerning trend has emerged — cancers linked to obesity are rising rapidly, prompting health experts to sound the alarm.
A major report published in April on cancer trends in the US has revealed a troubling surge in obesity-related cancers. Further intensifying the concern, a recent study presented at the Endocrine Society Annual Meeting in San Francisco has shown that deaths caused by such cancers have more than tripled in the past two decades.
Among the 13 types of cancers now attributed to obesity are esophageal, colorectal, postmenopausal breast, uterine, gallbladder, upper stomach, kidney, liver, ovarian, pancreatic, thyroid, brain (meningioma), and multiple myeloma. Shockingly, these obesity-linked cancers now account for nearly 40% of new cancer cases in the US, disproportionately affecting women, senior citizens, Native Americans, and Black Americans.
Obesity has now emerged as the second leading preventable cause of cancer after smoking. Despite increased awareness about the dangers of smoking, the threat posed by excess weight has not received equal attention. Experts point towards a complex biological connection involving estrogen, insulin resistance, fat cells, inflammation, and changes in gut microbiota, all of which could be responsible for triggering or aggravating cancer.
Behind the falling rates of cancer in men lies a significant drop in smoking. From 1965 to 2015, smoking rates in the US plummeted from 42% to 15%. However, during the same period, obesity rates surged from 13% to over 40%, reversing any gains in cancer prevention, particularly for women.
While cancer cases in men have seen a decline, the same cannot be said for women. Data from 2003 to 2021 shows a steady rise in cancer diagnoses among women across all racial and ethnic groups. The American Cancer Society notes that women under 50 are now 82% more likely to be diagnosed with cancer compared to men in the same age bracket — a sharp increase from 51% in 2002.
Health professionals, especially oncologists, are now working closely with obesity specialists to manage weight in cancer patients and survivors. Research has consistently shown that higher levels of fat tissue not only increase cancer risk but also raise the likelihood of recurrence. Weight loss, on the other hand, has been linked to improved outcomes in breast and colon cancers.
Experts believe that fat cells, particularly in obese individuals, are “hormonally active,” producing excess estrogen — a known trigger for certain cancers. Furthermore, the accumulation of fat leads to chronic inflammation, which damages cells and promotes mutation. Obesity is also known to cause insulin resistance, with elevated insulin levels stimulating the growth of cancerous tissues.
Recent studies have also highlighted the role of certain fat-storage molecules, known as sphingolipids, in damaging organs and possibly accelerating the development of cancers like colon cancer, particularly in younger populations. Persistent obesity is now known to increase the risk of colon cancer by as much as 57%.
Despite the growing crisis, only a fraction of obese individuals receive proper medical treatment. Bias and stigma continue to plague patients, often leading to missed diagnoses and delayed screenings. Many diagnostic machines are not suited for individuals with obesity, further hindering timely care.
Health experts are calling for urgent, policy-driven public health interventions — similar to those deployed to reduce smoking — to combat this rising threat. Alongside, they urge individuals to treat obesity as a serious medical condition and seek specialist care.
Regular screenings, a nutritious diet, physical activity, minimal alcohol consumption, and adequate sleep continue to be the foundation of cancer prevention. But as experts emphasize, addressing obesity with the seriousness it deserves is now more crucial than ever in the fight against cancer.