Obesity Raises Risk Of 19 Cancers, Study Of 1.5 Million Cases Finds

A major international study has found strong evidence that excess body weight significantly increases the risk of developing 19 different types of cancer.

Published in Nature Metabolism on 15 June 2026, the review analysed 226 peer-reviewed studies involving nearly 1.5 million documented cancer cases, making it one of the most comprehensive assessments of the link between obesity and cancer.

Researchers linked higher Body Mass Index (BMI) to an increased risk of 19 cancers.

Every five-unit rise in BMI increased the risk of endometrial cancer by 58 per cent and oesophageal adenocarcinoma by 47 per cent.

The study also linked excess body weight to leukaemia, non-Hodgkin lymphoma, bladder cancer and glioma, expanding evidence on obesity-related cancers.

Researchers found that higher BMI was associated with a lower risk of premenopausal breast cancer, lung cancer in never-smokers and oesophageal squamous cell carcinoma in never-smokers.

Researchers said these contrasting findings reflect the complex relationship between body weight and cancer, with different biological mechanisms likely influencing different cancer types.

The analysis also revealed differences across regions and sexes.

The obesity-related risk for postmenopausal breast cancer was nearly twice as high in East Asian populations as in European populations.

Obesity showed a stronger link to colorectal cancer in men and gallbladder cancer in women.

Researchers said obesity remains one of the leading preventable cancer risk factors, as excess body fat can disrupt hormones, trigger inflammation and promote abnormal cell growth. They also called for more research in underrepresented regions, including South Asia and Africa, as obesity rates continue to rise worldwide.

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