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How many cancers are actually linked to obesity and physical activity?

At least 13 cancers are linked to overweight and obesity, and 3 linked to not being physically active. Are there more cancers that are caused by excess weight and low levels of physical activity?

Researcher: Aune, Dagfinn
Grant type: Regular Grant Programme
Countries: UK
Cancer types: General
Exposures: Body composition, Physical activity
Status: Ongoing
Area: Cancer prevention
  • Grant awarded: November 2020

This project will aim to clarify the relation between adiposity and physical activity and risk of 25 cancers in three large European cohort studies and to explore the potential underlying mechanisms that could explain these associations. This will be of major importance for strengthening the evidence regarding adiposity and physical activity and cancer risk, and could contribute toward more complete estimates of cancer burden due to low physical activity and adiposity, and prevention of additional cancer cases in the general population through weight control and physical activity.

– Dagfinn Aune