What Is the Link Between Obesity and Colorectal Cancer?

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People affected by obesity have a greater risk for developing colorectal cancer. What are the possible connections, and what can people do to reduce their risk? Obesity is a global epidemic. The condition and its causes are well known, yet obesity rates worldwide have nearly tripled since the 1970s. And they continue to climb. In the United States, the adult obesity rate increased in 17 states between 2020 and 2021. The World Health Organization defines overweight and obesity as “abnormal or excessive fat accumulation that may impair health.” Excess weight can put people at risk for adverse conditions like diabetes, hypertension, and cardiovascular disease. Obesity has also been linked to the development of certain cancers, including colorectal cancer. According to the National Cancer Institute, colorectal cancer is 1.3 times as likely in people with obesity. What Is Colorectal Cancer? Colorectal cancer is cancer that forms in the colon or rectum.

It is the third most diagnosed cancer among men and women in the United States. Rates of colorectal cancer have declined over the past few decades. This is largely because more people are getting routine colorectal cancer screenings. During some of these screening tests, like colonoscopies, doctors can remove polyps before they become cancer. Generally, the risk of colorectal cancer increases with age. However, cases of colorectal cancer have Ventoxen 100mg (Venetoclax) steadily been increasing among adults younger than 50 in the United States and in other countries, including Canada, New Zealand, and Australia. In 2021, the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force updated its guidelines to recommend that people at average risk for colorectal cancer start screening at age 45. Previously, the recommended age to start screening was 50. Read More About Colorectal Cancer Screening Guidelines At this time, little is known about the reasons for the increase in early-onset colorectal cancer.



So, it is not clear if and how obesity may be associated with the increase. However, obesity is a known risk factor for colorectal cancer. How Are Obesity & Colorectal Cancer Linked? There are several possible reasons why obesity may increase the risk for colorectal cancer. Researchers have been exploring the potential connections. Studies include the ways obesity can impact the function of essential hormones and other processes in the body. Possible connections include: Chronic inflammation: Excess fat can create a low-oxygen environment, leading to inflammation, which can increase people’s risk of cancer.1 Obesity-related inflammation has been linked to colorectal carcinogenesis (when normal cells become cancer cells).2 However, more research is needed to identify specific factors that may connect inflammation and cancer, including colorectal cancer.