According to new research, being overweight for a long time practically doubles a woman’s risk of endometrial cancer, the common form of uterine cancer.
Lifelong excess weight almost doubles a woman’s risk of developing womb cancer (cancer of the uterus),[1] according to a Cancer Research UK-funded study published today (April 19, 2022) in the journal BMC Medicine.[2]
The research study from the University of Bristol is one of the first to find that for every 5 extra BMI units, a woman’s risk of endometrial cancer (the common form of uterine cancer) is almost doubled (an increase of 88%). This is higher than most previous studies have suggested and reflects lifelong weight status rather than a snapshot in time like most other research. 5 BMI units is the difference between the overweight category and the obese category, or of a 5’5″ adult woman being two stones (28 pounds) heavier.
Around 120,000 women from Australia, Belgium, Germany, Poland, Sweden, the United Kingdom, and the United States were studied using genetic samples, with around 13,000 of them having uterine cancer. This comprehensive international statistical investigation is one of the first of its type to look at the impact of a higher BMI throughout one’s life on the risk of endometrial cancer.
The researchers looked at markers of 14 traits, which could link obesity and cancer of the uterus. They uncovered two hormones – fasting insulin and testosterone – which increased the risk of being diagnosed with womb cancer. By pinpointing exactly how obesity increases the risk of cancer, such as through hormones, scientists in the future could use drugs to reduce or increase the level of these hormones in people already at a higher risk of cancer. For example, drugs like metformin used in diabetes treatment can reduce the levels of hormones and research suggests this drug also affects cancer risk, though further study is ongoing.
Endometrial cancer is a cancer that starts in the endometrium (the lining of the uterus or womb). The most common symptom is vaginal bleeding that isn’t related to a menstrual period. Most frequently, Endometrial cancer occurs after menopause.
Womb cancer is one of the cancer types most closely linked with obesity. It’s the most common gynecological cancer in high income countries and is the fourth most common cancer for women in the UK – 1 in 36 women will be diagnosed in their lifetime. And of UK womb cancer cases, it’s estimated that around a third are caused by being overweight and obese.
Being overweight or obese is the second highest preventable cause of cancer in the UK. It’s estimated that more than one in 20 cancer cases in the UK are caused by excess weight.
Emma Hazelwood, lead author of the paper said: “This study is an interesting first step into how genetic analyses could be used to uncover exactly how obesity causes cancer, and what can be done to tackle it. Links between obesity and womb cancer are well-known but this is one of the largest studies which has looked into exactly why that is on a molecular level. We look forward to further research exploring how we can now use this information to help reduce the risk of cancer in people struggling with obesity.”
Dr. Julie Sharp, head of health information at Cancer Research UK said: “Cancer Research UK has been leading the way in uncovering links between obesity and cancer for years. Studies like this bolster the fact that being overweight or obese is the second biggest cause of cancer in the UK and can help us start to pinpoint why. This will play a pivotal role in uncovering how to prevent and treat cancer in the future.
“More research is needed to investigate exactly which treatments and drugs could be used to manage cancer risk among people struggling with obesity. We already know that being overweight or obese increases your risk of developing 13 different types of cancer. To reduce your cancer risk, it’s important to maintain a healthy weight by eating a balanced diet and staying active.”
Kath’s story
When Kath first started experiencing bleeding in 2013, she put it down to menopause. Despite urges from her daughter to get checked out, she carried on doing the job she loved – working as a bra fitter in Debenhams Trafford. But just before Christmas in 2013, she had a heavy bleed which prompted her to make an appointment with the doctor.
In January 2014, Kath went to her GP and was referred to Royal Bolton Hospital where she had a biopsy. She was diagnosed with womb cancer.
“When you hear the word cancer your mind runs riot and I was thinking: ‘Am I going to live to see my grandchildren grow up?’” Kath said.
“I felt sick as I didn’t know what was going on. It was as though I was in a dream. I was devastated when I found out and cried with my husband holding my hand.”
Thankfully, Kath’s cancer was caught at the earliest possible stage, which meant she could have life-saving surgery which removed her ovaries and cervix. The operation removed all the cancer, which meant she didn’t need radiotherapy or chemotherapy, and she is now cancer-free.
But her journey did not end there.
“After finishing my treatment I wanted to make some changes,” Kath said.
“We don’t know what caused my cancer, but I have to admit that I was carrying a few extra pounds. So now I exercise and eat better to be healthier. I also wanted to be a role model for my family.”
Kath takes part in CRUK’s Race For Life every year, raising both money and awareness about cancer.
“Reading some of the words on people’s backs about why they were running brought it all back to me about how important this is,” Kath said.
“My daughter’s notes said: ‘Running for our Mum who beat womb cancer!’”
“It’s worrying to see that womb cancer rates are on the rise, and although weight isn’t the only risk factor, I want to encourage other women to live healthily so that fewer women go through what I went through.
“I hope that my story helps others make a change in their life.”
Notes and References
This paper relates to endometrial cancer. Endometrial cancer is the most common type of uterine cancer and directly affects the lining of the womb – the endometrium. 1 in 36 women born after 1960 in the UK will be diagnosed in their lifetime. This paper looked at DNA samples to identify DNA markers, which could act as proxies for the women’s BMI and hormone levels. Using these, the researchers then found DNA markers of hormones, especially testosterone and fasting insulin, which linked to uterine cancer risk. This genetic approach permits researchers to look at the effects of molecular traits over a long period of time.
“Identifying molecular mediators of the relationship between body mass index and endometrial cancer risk: a Mendelian randomization analysis” by Emma Hazelwood, Eleanor Sanderson, Vanessa Y. Tan, Katherine S. Ruth, Timothy M. Frayling, Niki Dimou, Marc J. Gunter, Laure Dossus, Claire Newton, Neil Ryan, Dimitri J. Pournaras, Tracy A. O’Mara, George Davey Smith, Richard M. Martin and James Yarmolinsky, 19 April 2022, BMC Medicine.
DOI: 10.1186/s12916-022-02322-3
“The fraction of cancer attributable to modifiable risk factors in England, Wales, Scotland, Northern Ireland, and the United Kingdom in 2015” by Katrina F. Brown, Harriet Rumgay, Casey Dunlop, Margaret Ryan, Frances Quartly, Alison Cox, Andrew Deas, Lucy Elliss-Brookes, Anna Gavin, Luke Hounsome, Dyfed Huws, Nick Ormiston-Smith, Jon Shelton, Ceri White and D. Max Parkin, 23 March 2018, British Journal of Cancer.
DOI: 10.1038/s41416-018-0029-6