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Obesity and Cancer: Mechanisms, Epidemiological Evidence, and Potential Risk Reduction
Jung-sun Lim, S.P. Kim, In Young Cho, Dong Wook Shin. Journal of Obesity & Metabolic Syndrome, 2026-01-09
Topic: Risk, prevention and care in population studies
Obesity promotes carcinogenesis through interlocking metabolic, inflammatory, immune, and hormonal pathways. We narratively synthesize recent meta-analyses and selected cohort studies that examine adiposity-principally body mass index (BMI) and waist circumference-in relation to cancer incidence. Across the 13 cancers designated by the U.S. National Cancer Institute as obesity-associated, risk elevations are generally consistent, though magnitudes vary by histology (e.g., esophageal adenocarcinoma vs. squamous cell carcinoma), anatomic subsite (gastric cardia vs. non-cardia), sex or menopausal status, and adiposity metric, with central adiposity often revealing additional risk beyond BMI. Evidence is mixed for several sites (e.g., pancreas and thyroid), and emerging but less established signals are noted for oral cavity, melanoma, bladder, non-Hodgkin lymphoma, and leukemia. We also review prevention data: observational studies and select trials suggest that intentional weight loss-via lifestyle interventions, pharmacotherapy (including glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonists), or bariatric surgery-can reduce overall or site-specific cancer incidence, although estimates are heterogeneous and causal certainty is limited. Taken together, biologic plausibility and convergent epidemiology support obesity as a modifiable cancer risk factor. Future studies are warranted using standardized exposure definitions, consistent stratification, and rigorous control of confounding to improve comparability. Adequately powered, long-term randomized or quasi-experimental studies may further refine effect sizes and inform precision prevention for obesity-related cancers.
Cite this study APA, Vancouver, BibTeX · download .bib or .ris
APA 7th
Lim, J.-s., Kim, S., Cho, I. Y., & Shin, D. W. (2026). Obesity and Cancer: Mechanisms, Epidemiological Evidence, and Potential Risk Reduction. Journal of Obesity & Metabolic Syndrome. https://doi.org/10.7570/jomes25088
Vancouver
Lim J.-s, Kim S, Cho IY, Shin DW. Obesity and Cancer: Mechanisms, Epidemiological Evidence, and Potential Risk Reduction. Journal of Obesity & Metabolic Syndrome. 2026. doi:10.7570/jomes25088. PMID: 41506747.
BibTeX
@article{lim2026-41506747,
author = {Lim, Jung-sun and Kim, S.P. and Cho, In Young and Shin, Dong Wook},
title = {{Obesity and Cancer: Mechanisms, Epidemiological Evidence, and Potential Risk Reduction}},
journal = {Journal of Obesity \& Metabolic Syndrome},
year = {2026},
doi = {10.7570/jomes25088},
pmid = {41506747},
url = {https://doi.org/10.7570/jomes25088}
}
Built from the record alzhub holds for this paper, not looked up. Volume, issue and page numbers are not held in the record. Check the citation against the original before you use it.
Key findings
- We also review prevention data: observational studies and select trials suggest that intentional weight loss-via lifestyle interventions, pharmacotherapy (including glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonists), or bariatric surgery-can reduce overall or site-specific cancer incidence, although estimates are heterogeneous and causal certainty is limited.
- Taken together, biologic plausibility and convergent epidemiology support obesity as a modifiable cancer risk factor.
Why it matters
This review is about obesity and cancer risk and contains no information on Alzheimer's disease. It reports no findings relevant to treating, curing or preventing dementia.
New to this subject? Start with our plain-English guide: Prevention →
Study details
- Study designmeta-analysis
- Evidence strengthHigh
How this study scored 58/100
Published in a peer-reviewed journal, and it is a meta-analysis pooling many studies. Scored zero for sample size, effect reported and studied in people because the record does not state it.
| Component | Points | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Journal tier | 7 / 10 | Tier 3 — peer-reviewed journal (Journal of Obesity & Metabolic Syndrome) |
| Journal's citation record | 0 / 4 | Journal of Obesity & Metabolic Syndrome: journal h-index 47 (OpenAlex, 2026-10-29) |
| Study design | 12 / 12 | A meta-analysis pooling many studies |
| Strength of evidence | 5 / 5 | Rated “high” in our summary |
| Peer-review validation | 10 / 10 | Peer-reviewed. Published as an article in a named peer-reviewed journal. |
| How recent | 5 / 5 | 2026 — within 1 year(s) of the newest study here |
| Sample size | 0 / 4 | Participant count not stated — scores zero (not stated in the record — scored 0) |
| Effect reported | 0 / 3 | No effect size reported — scores zero (not stated in the record — scored 0) |
| Studied in people | 0 / 3 | Not stated whether this was studied in people — scores zero (not stated in the record — scored 0) |
| Randomized / blinded | 0 / 2 | A review of other studies — randomization is not credited here |
| Times cited | 2 / 7 | Cited 8 times (OpenAlex, 2026-10-10) |
| Citations per year | 2 / 5 | 4.0 citations a year over 2 year(s) since 2026 |
| Impact for its field and year | 5 / 6 | Cited 22.2× the average for papers of its field and year (OpenAlex FWCI) |
| Cited by studies here | 0 / 6 | No other study in this library cites it |
| Still being cited | 1 / 4 | Cited 8 times in 2024–2026 (2026 still in progress; OpenAlex) |
| Senior author's track record | 3 / 4 | Last-listed author Dong Wook Shin: h-index 57 (OpenAlex, whole career) |
| Institution's track record | 1 / 3 | Sungkyunkwan University: institution h-index 788 (OpenAlex) |
| Multicenter collaboration | 1 / 3 | OpenAlex lists 2 institution(s) in 1 country |
| Indexed in PubMed | 2 / 2 | Indexed in PubMed (PMID 41506747) |
| Free to read | 2 / 2 | Free to read |
| Total | 58 / 100 | — |
What each of these 20 components measures, and what this score is not →
Read the original
- DOI: 10.7570/jomes25088
- PubMed: 41506747
- Original source →
- Free full text: Journal of Obesity & Metabolic Syndrome →
Full text: free to read — OpenAlex lists this copy as free to read: the link above (checked 6 Feb 1020).
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