New study highlights cancer risk associated with weight gain

New research has shed light on the considerable increase in cancer risk associated with weight gain during adulthood.

The University of Manchester research examined weight gain over many years among 300,000 people in America to assess the risk of developing obesity-related cancers, with some people gaining only a little weight between the ages of 18 and 65 years, while others became morbidly obese.

It was shown that men who went from a body mass index (BMI) of around 22 to 27 had a 50 percent increased risk of developing obesity-related cancer compared to those who stayed within a healthy weight range, while for those who went from being overweight to morbidly obese, their cancer risk jumped by 53 percent.

Meanwhile, women who went from a BMI of 23 to around 32 had a 17 percent higher risk in comparison to those who stayed at a healthy weight.

Of the 300,000 study participants, around 9,400 women and 5,500 men were diagnosed with obesity-related cancers after the age of 65.

Dr Hannah Lennon, lead author and researcher at the University of Manchester, said: "This study could be really useful in public health. It could help identify people who would benefit the most from taking action to control their weight before any health problems arise – including a cancer diagnosis."

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