Obesity, obesities and gastrointestinal cancers

Area of Science:

• Public Health
• Endocrinology
• Oncology

Background:

• Obesity is a global epidemic linked to metabolic syndrome, type 2 diabetes, hypertension, stroke, and numerous cancers.
• It is a significant risk factor for both gastrointestinal (GI) and non-gastrointestinal cancers.
• Obesity is heterogeneous, with visceral adipose tissue (VAT) playing a key endocrine role in chronic inflammation and insulin resistance.

Purpose of the Study:

• To highlight the global rise of obesity as a disease requiring early detection and care.
• To discuss the etiological link between obesity and various cancers, including GI malignancies.
• To emphasize the need for a nuanced clinical evaluation of obesity beyond Body Mass Index (BMI).

Main Methods:

• Review of epidemiological and clinical studies on obesity and its health consequences.
• Analysis of cancer incidence data in relation to overweight and obesity.
• Discussion of clinical guidelines and the limitations of using BMI alone.

Main Results:

• Obesity is associated with increased incidence of several cancers, particularly GI cancers.
• Overweight and obesity are largely preventable causes of cancer.
• Metabolically obese normal-weight individuals and metabolically healthy obese individuals present unique clinical challenges.

Conclusions:

• A critical evaluation of BMI, considering ethnicity and body habitus, is essential for assessing obesity-related risks.
• Preventing and managing overweight and obesity should be a public health priority, integrated into routine medical care.
• Policy changes supporting healthier food and physical activity environments are vital for combating the obesity epidemic.