Obesity Control and Cancer Prevention in China: Insights from the Weight Management Year

Obesity has emerged as a critical public health challenge worldwide and in China, substantially contributing to the burden of chronic diseases, including cancer. In response, China launched the "Weight Management Year" initiative in 2024, representing a strategic shift toward upstream interventions in chronic disease control. This perspective examines the essential role of obesity control in cancer prevention across the complete prevention continuum - primordial (zero-level), primary, secondary, and tertiary prevention. The initiative presents a unique opportunity to integrate weight management strategies into health promotion, early risk identification, screening programs, and post-diagnosis rehabilitation. It emphasizes incorporating obesity-related cancer prevention into routine healthcare through digital platforms, multidisciplinary collaboration, and population-wide education campaigns. However, significant challenges persist, including limited public awareness of obesity's carcinogenic risks, insufficient integration between clinical and public health systems, and inadequate multi-sectoral cooperation. Moving forward, cancer prevention in China must transition from a reactive, screening-focused model to a proactive, life-course approach centered on behavioral and lifestyle interventions. Strengthening risk communication, institutionalizing weight management across all prevention levels, and fostering cross-sectoral collaboration are essential for building a sustainable, population-wide cancer prevention framework.