Research

Hormonal

Increased body mass index (BMI) is strongly associated with a higher risk of developing oesophageal adenocarcinoma, colon and rectal cancer in men, biliary tract system cancer, pancreatic cancer, endometrial cancer (premenopausal), kidney cancer, and multiple myeloma.

Maintaining a healthy body weight is a critical, evidence-based strategy for reducing the risk of several major cancers, including colorectal, pancreatic, kidney, and endometrial cancers. This is not just about aesthetics; it is a direct modifiable risk factor. For men, colorectal risk is particularly sensitive to BMI increases. For women, maintaining a healthy weight, especially before menopause, is crucial for endometrial health. Public health guidelines should target these populations for personalized prevention strategies.

WeakSupportsHIGH confidence
An increase in body mass index was associated with a higher risk of developing oesophageal adenocarcinoma; colon and rectal cancer in men; biliary tract system and pancreatic cancer; endometrial cancer in premenopausal women; kidney cancer; and multiple myeloma.
Maria Kyrgiou et al. · BMJ · 2017

Why this rating

The paper classifies these associations as 'strong evidence' based on rigorous criteria including P<10^-6, >1000 cases, and absence of bias indicators.

Source

Adiposity and cancer at major anatomical sites: umbrella review of the literature

Maria Kyrgiou et al. · BMJ · 2017

DOI 10.1136/bmj.j477

Meta-analysis · 204 studiesCited 826×
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DOI resolved against Crossref · corpus check 2026-06-10

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