Research

Hormonal

Visceral obesity and metabolic syndrome increase the risk of esophageal adenocarcinoma (EAC) through both GERD-dependent mechanisms (increased acid exposure) and GERD-independent mechanisms (systemic inflammation, adipokine signaling, and microbiome alterations).

Maintain a healthy waist circumference and manage metabolic health markers (blood pressure, blood sugar, lipids) to reduce the risk of esophageal adenocarcinoma. This involves addressing visceral fat through diet and exercise, as it impacts cancer risk through both acid reflux and systemic inflammation.

GoodSupportsHIGH confidence
Visceral obesity (VO) may promote EAC via both directly impacting on gastro-esophageal reflux disease and Barrett’s esophagus, as well as via reflux-independent effects, involving adipokines, growth factors, insulin resistance, and the microbiome.
Jessie A. Elliott et al. · Frontiers in Oncology · 2021

Why this rating

Supported by large pooled studies, meta-analyses, and consistent mechanistic data, though causal links for some specific adipokine effects are still being elucidated.

Source

Visceral Obesity, Metabolic Syndrome, and Esophageal Adenocarcinoma

Jessie A. Elliott et al. · Frontiers in Oncology · 2021

DOI 10.3389/fonc.2021.627270

narrative_reviewCited 48×
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DOI resolved against Crossref · corpus check 2026-06-10

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