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Review
. 2005 Aug 31;46(4):449-55.
doi: 10.3349/ymj.2005.46.4.449.

Obesity, insulin resistance and cancer risk

Sun Ha Jee  1 , Hee Jin Kim, Jakyoung Lee
Affiliations
Review

Obesity, insulin resistance and cancer risk

Sun Ha Jee et al. Yonsei Med J. .

Abstract

Obesity is a known cause of metabolic syndrome which includes Type II diabetes, hypertension, and dyslipidemia. It is well documented that insulin resistance contributes to the mortality and the incidence of metabolic syndromes including central obesity, dyslipidemia, hyperglycemia and hypertension. Both obesity and diabetes are emerging topics for researchers to consider as having a possible causal association with cancer since the two factors have been viewed as risk factors for cancer. The present paper introduced the hypothesis of a possible causal relationship between obesity, insulin resistance and cancer and reviews relevant existing studies in this area. More efforts and studies are needed to clarify the mechanisms and the common risk factors which might be incorporated into interventions to prevent cancer and cardiovascular diseases as top causes of death.

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Figures

Fig. 1
Fig. 1
Prevalence of obesity in Korean men.
Fig. 2
Fig. 2
Increased cancer risk through insulin resistance: a multi-dimensional model.
Fig. 3
Fig. 3
Hazard ratios of diabetes versus non-diabetes on various cancers in Korean men and women. Source: Jee et al. JAMA 2005;293:194-202.
Fig. 4
Fig. 4
Hazard ratios for all cancer deaths by fasting serum glucose levels in Korean men according to body mass index, 1993-2002. Source: Jee et al. JAMA 2005;293:194-202.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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