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. 2024 Mar:152:155744.
doi: 10.1016/j.metabol.2023.155744. Epub 2023 Nov 27.

Rising global burden of cancer attributable to high BMI from 2010 to 2019

Darren Jun Hao Tan  1 , Cheng Han Ng  2 , Mark Muthiah  3 , Jie Ning Yong  1 , Douglas Chee  4 , Margaret Teng  4 , Zhen Yu Wong  5 , Rebecca Wenling Zeng  1 , Yip Han Chin  1 , Jiong-Wei Wang  3 , Pojsakorn Danpanichkul  6 , Ruveena Bhavani Rajaram  7 , Ramanuj DasGupta  8 , Hiroyuki Suzuki  9 , Hirokazu Takahashi  10 , Nobuharu Tamaki  11 , Yock Young Dan  3 , Rashid Lui  12 , Ajay Duseja  13 , Mohammad Shadab Siddiqui  14 , Khay Guan Yeoh  3 , Arun Sanyal  14 , Karn Wijarnpreecha  15 , Rohit Loomba  16 , Christos Socrates Mantzoros  17 , Daniel Q Huang  18
Affiliations

Rising global burden of cancer attributable to high BMI from 2010 to 2019

Darren Jun Hao Tan et al. Metabolism. 2024 Mar.

Abstract

Background: High body mass index (BMI) is a major risk factor for cancer development, but its impact on the global burden of cancer remains unclear.

Methods: We estimated global and regional temporal trends in the burden of cancer attributable to high BMI, and the contributions of various cancer types using the framework of the Global Burden of Disease Study.

Results: From 2010 to 2019, there was a 35 % increase in deaths and a 34 % increase in disability-adjusted life-years from cancers attributable to high BMI. The age-standardized death rates for cancer attributable to high BMI increased over the study period (annual percentage change [APC] +0.48 %, 95 % CI 0.22 to 0.74 %). The greatest number of deaths from cancer attributable to high BMI occurred in Europe, but the fastest-growing age-standardized death rates and disability-adjusted life-years occurred in Southeast Asia. Liver cancer was the fastest-growing cause of cancer mortality (APC: 1.37 %, 95 % CI 1.25 to 1.49 %) attributable to high BMI.

Conclusion: The global burden of cancer-related deaths attributable to high BMI has increased substantially from 2010 to 2019. The greatest increase in age-standardized death rates occurred in Southeast Asia, and liver cancer is the fastest-growing cause of cancer mortality attributable to high BMI. Urgent and sustained measures are required at a global and regional level to reverse these trends and slow the growing burden of cancer attributed to high BMI.

Keywords: Cancer; Epidemiology; Etiology; Obesity.

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Conflict of interest statement

Declaration of competing interest Rohit Loomba: receives funding support from NIEHS (5P42ES010337), NCATS (5UL1TR001442), NIDDK (U01DK130190, U01DK061734, R01DK106419, P30DK120515, R01DK121378, R01DK124318), and NHLBI (P01HL147835). RL serves as a consultant to Aardvark Therapeutics, Altimmune, Anylam/Regeneron, Amgen, Arrowhead Pharmaceuticals, AstraZeneca, Bristol-Myer Squibb, CohBar, Eli Lilly, Galmed, Gilead, Glympse bio, Hightide, Inipharma, Intercept, Inventiva, Ionis, Janssen Inc., Madrigal, Metacrine, Inc., NGM Biopharmaceuticals, Novartis, Novo Nordisk, Merck, Pfizer, Sagimet, Theratechnologies, 89 bio, Terns Pharmaceuticals and Viking Therapeutics. In addition, his institutions received research grants from Arrowhead Pharmaceuticals, Astrazeneca, Boehringer-Ingelheim, Bristol-Myers Squibb, Eli Lilly, Galectin Therapeutics, Galmed Pharmaceuticals, Gilead, Intercept, Hanmi, Intercept, Inventiva, Ionis, Janssen, Madrigal Pharmaceuticals, Merck, NGM Biopharmaceuticals, Novo Nordisk, Merck, Pfizer, Sonic Incytes and Terns Pharmaceuticals. Co-founder of LipoNexus Inc. KG Yeoh: receive research grants from Singapore Ministry of Health's National Medical Research Council (MOH-OFLCG18May-0003) and A*STAR (IAF-ICP I2101E0012). He is a member of the Scientific Advisory Board of MiRXES in an honorary capacity and receives no personal payments. Daniel Q Huang: receives funding support from the Singapore Ministry of Health's National Medical Research Council under its NMRC Research Training Fellowship (MOH-000595-01). In addition, he has served as an advisory board member for Gilead. Christos S. Mantzoros: CSM reports grants through his institution from Merck, Massachusetts Life Sciences Center and Boehringer Ingellheim, has been a shareholder of and has received grants through his Institution and personal consulting fees from Coherus Inc. and AltrixBio, he reports personal consulting fees from Novo Nordisk, reports personal consulting fees and support with research reagents from Ansh Inc., collaborative research support from LabCorp Inc., reports personal consulting fees from Genfit, Lumos, Amgen, Corcept, Intercept, 89 Bio, Madrigal and Regeneron, reports educational activity meals through his institution or national conferences from Esperion, Merck, Boehringer Ingelheim and travel support and fees from TMIOA, Elsevier, and the Cardio Metabolic Health Conference. None is related to the work presented herein. Cheng Han Ng: CHN has served as a consultant to Boxer Capital. All other authors do not have any conflicts of interest.

Figures

Fig. 1.
Fig. 1.
(A) Number of cancer-related deaths attributable to high body mass index in 2010 and 2019; by World Health Organization (WHO) region. (B) Cancer-related age-standardized death rates (ASDRs) attributable to high body mass index in 2010 and 2019; by World Health Organization (WHO) region. (C) Number of cancer-related disability-adjusted life years (DALYs) attributable to high body mass index (BMI) in 2010 and 2019; by World Health Organization (WHO) region. (D) Cancer-related age-standardized DALYs (ASDALYs) attributable to high body mass index in 2010 and 2019; by World Health Organization (WHO) region. (E) Cancer-related age-standardized death rates (ASDRs) attributable to high body mass index in 2010 and 2019; by socio-demographic index. (F) Cancer-related age-standardized DALYs (ASDALYs) attributable to high BMI in 2010 and 2019; by socio-demographic index.
Fig. 2.
Fig. 2.
(A) Cancer-related age-standardized death rates (ASDRs) attributable to high body mass index in 2019; by country/territory. (B) Cancer-related age-standardized DALYs (ASDALYs) attributable to high body mass index in 2019; by country/territory.
Fig. 3.
Fig. 3.
(A) Number of cancer-related deaths attributable to high body mass index in 2010 and 2019; stratified by cancer type. (B) Cancer-related age-standardized death rates (ASDRs) attributable to high body mass index in 2010 and 2019; by cancer type. (C) Number of cancer-related disability-adjusted life years (DALYs) attributable to high body mass index in 2010 and 2019; by cancer type. (D) Cancer-related age-standardized DALYs (ASDALYs) attributable to high body mass index in 2010 and 2019; by cancer type. (E) Cancer-related age-standardized death rates (ASDRs) attributable to high body mass index in 2019; by sex cancer type. (F) Cancer-related age-standardized DALYs (ASDALYs) attributable to high body mass index in 2019; by sex and cancer type.
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