Researchers at the World Health Organization found that "those with significant weight from ages 18 to 40 are more likely to develop 18 different types of deadly diseases." These include leukemia, non-Hodgkin lymphoma, and among those who have never smoked, cancers of the head, neck, and bladder.
In this context, Dr. Heinz Freisling, co-leader of the study at the International Agency for Research on Cancer under the World Health Organization, stated that "doctors need to be aware of the higher risk of cancer in individuals who are obese." He added, "Our study's results support the re-evaluation of the cancer burden associated with overweight and obesity, which is likely currently being underestimated."
Previously, the World Health Organization had linked overweight or obesity to at least 13 different types of cancer. Dr. Talita Duarte Salis from the Jordi Gol Primary Care Research Institute said, "We must prevent and reduce overweight and obesity early on. With these results, the global community has a new powerful tool to shape targeted interventions, develop effective preventive strategies, and ultimately make a significant impact on cancer outcomes worldwide."
The study published in the journal Nature Communications examined the health records of individuals in Catalonia, Spain, from 2009 to 2018. None of them had cancer at the beginning of the study, and by the end, 225,396 were diagnosed with it.
