Colon Cancer In Women Is Getting Younger Due To Obesity

Colon cancer in women is getting younger due to obesity

Obesity is associated with an increased risk of colorectal cancer (colon and rectal cancer) in young women, according to a new study published in JAMA Oncology.

Three Graces. Photo: flickr.com /

Obesity is associated with an increased risk of colorectal cancer (colon and rectal cancer) in young women, according to a new study published in JAMA Oncology.

More than 600,000 cases of colorectal cancer are registered annually, of which more than 60,000 cases are in Russia. This type of cancer came to the second place in the Russian Federation in terms of mortality from cancer.

With the correct and timely diagnosis, 9 out of 10 patients can be saved. However, colorectal cancer practically does not have early clinical manifestations, which greatly complicates the diagnosis. Colorectal cancer incidence and mortality increases among people under 50 years of age. The reasons for this are still unknown, but the rising prevalence of obesity may be doing its bit, the researchers believe.

The study lasted 22 years; scientists tracked the health status of 85,256 women aged 25 to 42 years. During this time, they found 114 cases of colorectal cancer in women under 45.

As it turns out, the higher a woman's body mass index (BMI), the higher the risk of early colorectal cancer. Compared with women of normal weight (BMI ranges between 18.5 and 22.9), women with obesity (BMI over 30) almost doubled the risk of the disease - by 93%.

Weight gain after age 18 (age was taken as a benchmark) has also been associated with colorectal cancer. Compared to women who gained less than 5 kilograms, gaining 20 to 40 kilograms increased their risk by 65%. Doubling the weight more than doubled the risk of developing the disease.

“We have good screening and early detection of breast cancer in young women, but not for colorectal cancer,” said study lead author Yin Cao, an assistant professor at the Washington University Medical School. - There is currently no screening for colorectal cancer for people younger than 50 years old. Some doctors are pushing for age reduction to 45 years.”

The authors see the need for further research to determine the causal relationship between the risk of early colorectal cancer and obesity. In addition, research of this kind among men should definitely be carried out.