Higher Risk Of 17 Cancers After High BMI In Late Teens

It’s not easy being a teenager. These years involve identity formation, relationship dramas and immense physical changes as the child slowly becomes an adult.

Some weight gain is normal during this time. Other than the first year of life, adolescence is the period of greatest growth and development. Kids grow taller, bone mass accrues, muscle mass increases and body weight may double.

So far, so good. But a significant proportion of young people now gain too much weight during these years. A sedentary lifestyle, depression, stress, disrupted sleep or a poor diet can all add excess kilos.

That has consequences. Teens who are overweight or obese are more likely to experience a number of health problems and may also struggle with their self-image.

And a new study shows that it may also increase their cancer risk in later life.

Increased risk of 17 cancers

If a man is overweight or obese at the age of 18, he’s at higher risk of developing 17 different cancers, according to new research from the University of Gothenburg.

How Did They Work That Out?

Military conscription was compulsory until 2010 for all Swedish men, excluding those who were imprisoned or living with significant health issues or disabilities.

Conscription involved a medical examination and the details were recorded in the Swedish military service conscription register. The researchers examined those records for all men conscripted between 1968-2005, excluding those who were diagnosed with cancer within 5 years of their military service or who died or moved overseas within 5 years.

The researchers then linked the conscription details with information on that person’s later life, recorded in the Swedish national patient register, Statistics Sweden and the Swedish cause of death register.

From that, they were able to see how each man’s weight at age 18 affected their later life.

Impact Of A High BMI at Age 18

Over the following decades, men who had a high BMI at conscription were more likely to develop 17 different types of cancer.

Those were malignant melanoma, leukeamia, myeloma, Hodgkin’s lymphoma and non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma as well as cancer of the:

• Lung
• Head and neck
• Brain
• Thyroid
• Oesophagus
• Stomach
• Pancreas
• Liver
• Colon
• Rectum
• Kidney
• Bladder.

A high BMI at age 18 increased the risk of developing abdominal cancers (oesophagus, stomach and kidney) by 3-4 times. In fact, the researchers consider that an unhealthy weight seemed to explain about 15%–25% of cases of these cancers in Sweden today.

Excess weight also increased the risk of dying within 5 years of being diagnosed with Hodgkin's lymphoma and cancer of the skin, thyroid, bladder and prostate.

What About Today’s Youth?

The Swedish study was focused on men who turned 18 between 1968-2005. Those men are now in their mid-30s to their early 70s. So, what about today’s teens?

The Victorian government notes that nearly a quarter of today’s children are overweight or obese and that about 80% of obese adolescents will go on to be obese adults.

That should concern us.

Indeed, the Swedish researchers argue that, over the next 30 years, we should expect an increase in the proportion of cancer cases linked to youth overweight and obesity.

What Should You Do?

If you have concerns about your own or your teenager’s weight, what should you do?

The first thing is to treat weight seriously. It is an important aspect of a young person’s health with significant implications for their life. These are not always easy conversations but they are important. Try to keep the focus on health and well-being rather than on appearance.

Read this advice from the Raising Children’s Network on good ways to talk about weight concerns with your teenager

Then, get some help. We live in a world that’s almost designed to create weight gain – this is known as an obesogenic environment. It’s one of the many reasons why losing weight is hard. So, seek support from a skilled doctor or dietitian.

How Can We Help?

If weight loss proves difficult (as it does for many people), please come and see us.

We offer both medical and surgical approaches to weight loss. Our multidisciplinary team ensures you receive support from not only our surgeon and nurse but also our psychologist, dietitian and exercise physiologist. It means you’re able to address the many different aspects of your life that have contributed to weight gain.

Bariatric surgery may help to reduce the risk of many types of cancers, including abdominal cancers.

If you’re ready to take your first step leading towards a healthier life, please contact us today about a free, no obligation consultation.

Disclaimer

All information is general and is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice. Dr Phil Lockie can consult with you to confirm if a particular procedure or treatment is right for you. All surgery carries risks.

 

References

• Mark R. Corkins, Stephen R. Daniels, Sarah D. de Ferranti, Neville H. Golden, Jae H. Kim, Sheela N. Magge, Sarah Jane Schwarzenberg, Nutrition in Children and Adolescents, Medical Clinics of North America, Volume 100, Issue 6, 2016,

Pages 1217-1235, ISSN 0025-7125, ISBN 9780323476881, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.mcna.2016.06.005. (https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0025712516372960), [Accessed 8 January 2024]

• Stanford Medicine Children’s Health, Obesity in teens, https://www.stanfordchildrens.org/en/topic/default?id=obesity-in-adolescents-90-P01627, [Accessed 8 January 2024]

• Bariatric News, Higher risk of 17 cancers after high BMI in late teens, https://www.bariatricnews.net/post/higher-risk-of-17-cancers-after-high-bmi-in-late-teens, [Accessed 8 January 2024]

• Aron Onerup, Kirsten Mehlig, Agnes af Geijerstam, Elin Ekblom-Bak, Hans-Georg Kuhn, Lauren Lissner, Annika Rosengren, Mats Börjesson, Maria Åberg, Associations between BMI in youth and site-specific cancer in men—A cohort study with register linkage, Obesity: A research journal, first published: 06 November 2023, https://doi.org/10.1002/oby.23942, [Accessed 8 January 2024]

• Victorian Department of Health, Overweight and obesity in children, https://www.health.vic.gov.au/your-health-report-of-the-chief-health-officer-victoria-2018/child-health/overweight-and-obesity-in, [Accessed 8 January 2024]