CANCER DEATHS ATTRIBUTABLE TO OBESITY AS A RISK FACTOR – ANALYSIS OF GLOBAL TRENDS 1990-2013

Introduction There has been recent evidence linking increased body mass index and cancer. With the rising epidemic of obesity, this is a cause for concern and requires estimation of burden of cancer attributable to obesity. Objective The aim of this study was to review high body mass index as risk factor for malignancies. A secondary goal was to analyse the trends in this relationship over the period 1990 to 2013. Methods Data was extracted from Global Burden of Disease database [Institute of Health Metrics and Evaluation, University of Washington; www.healthdata.org]. Search criteria included high body mass index [as a Risk Factor], neoplasms, global, deaths per 100, 000, for both sexes, for all ages. Data was extracted into an Excel spreadsheet (Microsoft Excel 2013). Data trends were charted and analysed. Results The total number of deaths related to cancer are rising over the last twenty years: in 1990 the cancer deaths were 106 per 100,000 persons while in 2013 the rate increased to 115 per 100,000.Comparing global data available between 1990 -2013, cancer deaths related to increase in body mass index are at a rise .Cancer deaths in 2013 with the highest attributable risk (per 1,000,000 deaths) to obesity included: liver 13.6, oesophageal 10.8, colon and rectum 9.21 and breast cancer 5.24. Conclusion Obesity epidemic is on the rise globally. It is imperative for clinicians to focus on educating patients about weight management. After stopping smoking this may be one of the most important modifiable risk factors to reduce the risk of cancers especially liver, colon and breast tumours.