Excess body fat increases a person’s risk for many types of cancer. However, body fat distribution patterns tend to be sex-specific, with males carrying more fat in the upper abdomen and females carrying more in the hips, thighs, buttocks, and lower abdomen. A new study has identified differences in obesity-driven cancer rates between males and females.
Researchers drew on data from more than 440,000 adults enrolled in the UK Biobank study. They used statistical analysis to determine how various measures of body fat, such as body mass index (BMI) and waist circumference, influenced the risk of developing 19 types of cancer over a follow-up period of about 13 years.
They found that nearly all 19 cancers were associated with excess body fat, except brain, cervical, and testicular cancers. They also found that overall body fat had a greater influence on cancer risk than fat distribution. However, they noted sex-specific effects of body fat on colorectal, esophageal, and liver cancer rates between males and females. For example, excess abdominal fat increased the rates of esophageal cancer in females but not males. Similarly, excess overall fat increased the rates of liver cancer in males but not females.
These findings suggest body fat plays important but differential roles in cancer risk between males and females. Evidence suggests a ketogenic diet promotes weight loss and reduces cancer risk. Learn more about ketogenic diets and cancer in this episode featuring Dr. Dominic D'Agostino.
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