Overweight teenagers 'more likely to develop cancer' in adulthood, study claims

26 November 2023 , 12:55

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An overweight or obese BMI at the age of 18 was associated with a higher risk of developing 17 different cancers (Image: Getty Images)

Men who were overweight as teenagers are "more likely to develop up to 17 different cancers" - even if they later reach a healthy weight, a new study has suggested.

Researchers at the University of Gothenburg analysed 1,489,115 young men enlisted into the Swedish military at 18 years-old between 1968 and 2005 in an attempt to map how the youth obesity crisis could impact cancer trends over the next 30 years.

An overweight or obese BMI was associated with a higher risk of 17 different cancers among the 84,621 participants later diagnosed with cancer during the follow-up period, the link being strongest for abdominal types including cancer of the liver, oesophagus, stomach, and kidney. Troublingly, it was also shown to increase the likelihood of dying within five years of being diagnosed with skin cancer, Hodgkin's lymphoma and thyroid, bladder, and prostate cancer.

For several cancer types a BMI of just 20 to 22.4 was shown to elevate the risk.

Researchers said the study evidenced the need to re-think BMI thresholds (Getty Images)

The team projected that within three decades' time, 32 percent of stomach cancer cases and 37 percent of oesophagus cancer cases will be caused by patients having been overweight as teenagers.

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Professor of Family Medicine at University of Gothenburg, Maria Aberg, said the findings indicated the need to change BMI thresholds. The current definition of normal weight may be applicable primarily for older adults, while an optimal weight as a young adult is likely to be in a lower range.

"Our research has drawn similar conclusions regarding BMI in early adulthood and later cardiovascular disease", she explained. Prostate cancer was the exception to the rule, being more common among those who were not overweight or obese when they enlisted.

The team surmised that this was a function of men with a healthy BMI being more likely to seek medical attention for prostate problems. And although the study was only carried out on men, researchers believe the same link applies to obesity in girls under 18.

Dr Aron Onerup, of the University of Gothenburg and St Jude Children's Research Hospital in Memphis, USA, explained: "Obesity at a young age seems to increase the risk of developing cancer, and we see links between unhealthy weight and cancer in almost every organ. Given the alarming trend of obesity in childhood and adolescence, this study reinforces the need to deploy strong resources to reverse this trend."

Mizy Judah Clifton