Body Fatness and Cancer — Viewpoint of the IARC Working Group

Béatrice Lauby-Secretan, Ph.D., Chiara Scoccianti, Ph.D., Dana Loomis, Ph.D., Yann Grosse, Ph.D., Franca Bianchini, Ph.D., and Kurt Straif, M.P.H., M.D., Ph.D., for the International Agency for Research on Cancer Handbook Working Group

On the basis of the available data, we concluded that the absence of excess body fatness lowers the risk of most cancers. In addition, a review of stud-ies in experimental animals and mechanistic data suggest a causal cancer-preventive effect of in-tentional weight loss, although evidence in hu-mans remains to be established

Meta Analysis
14 effects

Reported Outcomes

DeterminantsOutcomeDetails

Obesity Musculoskeletal outcome
Obesity
Musculoskeletal system

Liver Cancer Digestive outcome
Increased risk of Liver Cancer
Digestive system

High evidence
80.0%

Obesity Musculoskeletal outcome
Obesity
Musculoskeletal system

Pancreatic cancer Digestive outcome
Increased risk of Pancreatic cancer
Digestive system

High evidence
50.0%

Obesity Musculoskeletal outcome
Obesity
Musculoskeletal system

Gallbladder cancer Digestive outcome
Increased risk of Gallbladder cancer
Digestive system

High evidence
30.0%

Obesity Musculoskeletal outcome
Obesity
Musculoskeletal system

Multiple Myeloma Blood Cancer Lymphatic outcome
Increased risk of Multiple Myeloma Bloo...
Lymphatic system

High evidence
50.0%

Obesity Musculoskeletal outcome
Obesity
Musculoskeletal system

Thyroid cancer Endocrine outcome
Minor increase risk of Thyroid cancer
Endocrine system

High evidence
10.0%

Obesity Musculoskeletal outcome
Obesity
Musculoskeletal system

Stomach cancer (Gastric cancer) Digestive outcome
Strong increased risk of Stomach cancer (Gastr...
Digestive system

High evidence
480.0%

Obesity Musculoskeletal outcome
Obesity
Musculoskeletal system

Meningioma Nervous outcome
Increased risk of Meningioma
Nervous system

High evidence
50.0%

Obesity Musculoskeletal outcome
Obesity
Musculoskeletal system

Colorectal Cancer Digestive outcome
Increased risk of Colorectal Cancer
Digestive system

High evidence
30.0%

Obesity Musculoskeletal outcome
Obesity
Musculoskeletal system

Kidney Cancer Urinary outcome
Increased risk of Kidney Cancer
Urinary system

High evidence
80.0%

Obesity Musculoskeletal outcome
Obesity
Musculoskeletal system

Prostate Cancer Reproductive outcome
Minor increase risk of Prostate Cancer
Reproductive system

Moderate evidence
5.0%

Obesity Musculoskeletal outcome
Obesity
Musculoskeletal system

Oesophagus cancer Digestive outcome
Strong increased risk of Oesophagus cancer
Digestive system

High evidence
380.0%

Obesity Musculoskeletal outcome
Obesity
Musculoskeletal system

Breast Cancer Reproductive outcome
Minor increase risk of Breast Cancer
Reproductive system

High evidence
10.0%

Obesity Musculoskeletal outcome
Obesity
Musculoskeletal system

Uterine Cancer Reproductive outcome
Strong increased risk of Uterine Cancer
Reproductive system

High evidence
610.0%

Obesity Musculoskeletal outcome
Obesity
Musculoskeletal system

Ovary cancer Reproductive outcome
Minor increase risk of Ovary cancer
Reproductive system

High evidence
10.0%