Obesity is more than a weight issue — it’s now a proven risk factor for multiple cancers.
Here are the 13 common cancer diagnoses that, according to a study being presented at ENDO 2025, the Endocrine Society’s annual meeting in San Francisco, California, are directly linked to obesity.
Esophageal adenocarcinoma
Obesity can increase stomach acid reflux, damaging the esophagus lining and raising the risk of this aggressive cancer type.
Breast cancer after menopause
For women who have gone through menopause, excess body fat can boost estrogen levels, significantly increasing breast cancer risk.
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Colon and rectal cancer
Obesity can alter gut health and inflammation, which plays a key role in developing cancers of the colon and rectum.
Uterine cancer
Higher estrogen levels caused by excess fat tissue heighten the risk of cancer in the lining of the uterus.
Gallbladder cancer
Obesity is linked to more chronic gallbladder inflammation, which can lead to gallbladder cancer.
Upper stomach cancer
Carrying extra weight can affect the upper part of the stomach, increasing the likelihood of cancer in this area.
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Kidney cancer
Obesity is a well-known risk factor for renal cell carcinoma, the most common type of kidney cancer.
Liver cancer
Fatty liver disease, more common in obese individuals, can progress to cirrhosis and liver cancer over time.
Ovarian cancer
In women, obesity disrupts hormone balance, which may contribute to the development of ovarian cancer.
Pancreatic cancer
Obesity is strongly associated with pancreatic cancer, a particularly deadly form because it is often detected late.
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Thyroid cancer
Studies suggest that people with higher body weight have a greater risk of developing thyroid cancer.
Meningioma (brain cancer)
A meningioma is a tumor in the brain’s lining, and obesity increases the likelihood of developing this type of brain cancer.
Multiple myeloma
Obesity is linked to a higher chance of multiple myeloma, a cancer that affects plasma cells in the bone marrow.
This article is based on information from Science Daily.
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This article is made and published by Ida-Marie Palm Varbæk, who may have used AI in the preparation.