For example, overweight or obese people who intentionally lose weight have reduced levels of certain hormones that are related to cancer risk, such as insulin, estrogens, and androgens. Some body changes that occur as a result of weight loss suggest it may, indeed, reduce cancer risk. Still, there’s growing evidence that weight loss might reduce the risk of some types of cancer, such as breast cancer (after menopause) and endometrial cancer. Research on how losing weight might lower the risk of developing cancer is limited. For example, some research suggests that women who are overweight as teenagers (but not those who gain weight as adults) may be at higher risk for developing ovarian cancer before menopause.Ĭlearly, more research is needed to better define the links between body weight and cancer. Being overweight during childhood and young adulthood might be more of a risk factor than gaining weight later in life for some cancers. The timing of weight gain might also affect cancer risk. For example, while studies have found that excess weight is linked with an increased risk of breast cancer in women after menopause, it does not seem to increase the risk of breast cancer before menopause. The links between body weight and cancer are complex and are not yet fully understood. The ability of cancer cells to spread (metastasize).Other factors that regulate cell growth, such as insulin-like growth factor-1 (IGF-1).Levels of certain hormones, such as insulin and estrogen, which can fuel cell growth.Cells' ability to live longer than they normally would.Excess body fat might increase cancer risk by affecting: Why does excess body weight increase the risk of cancer?Įxcess body weight may affect cancer risk in a number of ways, some of which might be specific to certain cancer types.

For example, excess body weight is thought to be a factor in more than half of all endometrial cancers, whereas it is linked to a smaller portion of other cancers. The link to body weight is stronger for some cancers than for others.

Cancers of the mouth, throat, and voice box.Meningioma (a tumor of the lining of the brain and spinal cord)īeing overweight or obese might also raise the risk of other cancers, such as:.Endometrial cancer (cancer of the lining of the uterus).Breast cancer (in women past menopause).What types of cancer are linked with excess body weight?īeing overweight or obese is clearly linked with an increased risk of many types of cancer, including:

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